Nyctyornis
Meropogon
Merops
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers.
This is a group of birds which breeds in open country in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Old World.
Just as the expressive name reveals, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sallies from an open perch. Before eating its meal, a bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.
Bee-eaters are gregarious, nesting colonially in tunnels in sandy banks; the eggs are white. They also feed and roost communally.
The full species list is:
Family: Meropidae
- Red-bearded Bee-eater , Nyctyornis amictus
- Blue-bearded Bee-eater , Nyctyornis athertoni
- Purple-bearded Bee-eater , Meropogon forsteni
- Little Bee-eater, Merops pusillus
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Merops persicus
- Little Green Bee-eater, Merops orientalis
- White-throated Bee-eater, Merops albicollis
- Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Merops hirundinaeus
- Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Merops phillipinus
- Black Bee-eater , Merops gularis
- Blue-headed Bee-eater , Merops muelleri
- Red-throated Bee-eater , Merops bulocki
- White-fronted Bee-eater , Merops bullockoides
- Blue-breasted Bee-eater , Merops variegatus
- Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater , Merops oreobates
- Black-headed Bee-eater , Merops breweri
- Somali Bee-eater , Merops revoilii
- Boehm's Bee-eater , Merops boehmi
- Blue-throated Bee-eater , Merops viridis
- Madagascar Bee-eater, Merops superciliosus
- Rainbow Bee-eater , Merops ornatus
- European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster
- Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti
- Rosy Bee-eater , Merops malimbicus
- Northern Carmine Bee-eater , Merops nubicus
- Southern Carmine Bee-eater , Merops nubicoides
