- Merops variegatus
Includes Ethiopian Bee-eater
Identification
18–21 cm (7-8¼ in)
- Green crown and upperparts
- Broad black eye-stripe
- Dark purple throat patch
- White patches on side of neck, between green hindneck and yellow throat.
Variation
Subspecies lafresnayii has a more conspicuous blue forehead and the blue of the gorget is not as dark as in bangweoloensis.
Similar Species
Slightly larger than Little Bee-eater, which lacks white by the throat patch.
Distribution
Africa:
Western Africa: Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Zaire
Eastern Africa: Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 4 subspecies[1]:
- M. v. loringi:
- M. v. variegatus:
- M. v. bangweoloensis:
- M. v. lafresnayii:
M.v. lafresnayii is considered by some authotities to be a separate species, Ethiopian Bee-eater.
Habitat
Long grass savannas and old fields, usually in more humid savannas than Little Bee-eater
Behaviour
Diet
They feed on a variety of flying insects, particularly bees.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Blue-breasted Bee-eater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Blue-breasted_Bee-eater
