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Bee-eaters

The bee-eaters, belonging to the family Meropidae, are comprised of three genera and thirty species, most of which inhabit Africa and Asia, with some found in Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. These birds are known for their vibrant plumage, slender builds, and typically elongated central tail feathers, along with long bills that curve downwards and medium to long wings. Males and females are similar in appearance, and they predominantly feed on flying insects, such as bees and wasps, by catching them mid-flight and neutralizing their stings through a specialized behavior. Bee-eaters live sociably, often forming colonies and nesting in burrows in sandy banks with both parents caring for the offspring, sometimes with help from other colony members. First identified by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz in 1815, bee-eaters have been variously linked to families such as kingfishers and rollers, though these relationships are distant. While they display significant uniformity in their physical attributes, species have different lifestyles and foraging habits. The birds are found in different habitats and migrate seasonally in some regions. Bee-eaters engage in social behaviors including colony living where mating pairs may have helpers in rearing young. Their nests can be vulnerable to predation by snakes, rodents, and other animals, and they can carry various parasites. Bee-eaters are not considered endangered, but certain species have been impacted by human activity and habitat loss. They are culturally significant and have been mentioned in ancient literature and mythology, though not often depicted in classical art. Despite the threats to their nesting sites and occasional conflicts with beekeeping activities, bee-eaters contribute ecologically by controlling insect populations and have a global conservation status of "least concern."

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A photo of a Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster
A photo of a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Böhm's Bee-eater

Merops boehmi
A photo of a Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus
A photo of a Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus)

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicus
A photo of a Olive Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus)

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus
A photo of a Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides)

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides
A photo of a Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus)

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus
A photo of a White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides)

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides
A photo of a White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis)

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis
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