Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, a member of the Meropidae family, is a slender bird adorned with a palette of vibrant colors. Its distinctive forked tail, a feature from which its name is derived, is a visual delight. The bird's plumage is primarily green, complemented by a yellow throat, a striking blue gorget, and a pronounced black eye stripe and beak. Both males and females share a similar appearance and can reach a length of 20 to 22 centimeters, inclusive of the elongated forked tail feathers that may exhibit green or blue hues.

Distribution and Habitat

Inhabiting the savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a bird that exhibits partial migratory behavior, often influenced by the ebb and flow of seasonal rainfall. This species shows a preference for areas with a denser tree presence compared to its bee-eater counterparts.

Behaviour

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is known for its approachability and its aerial prowess in capturing insects. True to its name, it predominantly feeds on flying insects such as bees, wasps, and hornets, which it deftly snatches from the air during sallies from an open perch. Among its preferred prey are honeybees. These birds are also known to nest either as individual pairs or in small colonies, burrowing into sandy banks to lay their 2 to 4 spherical, white eggs. Communal activities extend to feeding and roosting, where they gather in groups.

Conservation status

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population levels that would warrant a higher degree of conservation action.