Bee-eaters

European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
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 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