Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Green Bee-eater
Let us learn about the green colour bird with beautiful and functional wings that performs great sallies.
Common Name- Green Bee-eater
Scientific name- Merops orientalis
Size- 16cm-18cm
Type- Aves
Habitat and Distribution
Green Bee- water can be seen in the country in Africa, Asia, South Asia, Arabia and even the Himalayas, etc where there are habitats like Grassland, Country Roads, etc.
Appearance
Green Bee-eater has Green plumage with a blue beard, black bill, black Eye stripe (the area around eyes) and hints of Blue colour on the plumage.
The head has chestnut colour extended to the nape (back of the head).
Green bee-eaters have long prominent tails but their toes are weak as they depend upon their wings.
Hunting and Sallies of Green Bee-eater.
Bee-eaters catch Bees, Insects, Wasps, Ants, and Butterflies. They perform air Sallies in which they catch flying insects with round flights.
Green bee-eaters excavate the parts of hunted prey, such as venom-sac in Bees and then consume the other parts.
Breeding and Colonies of Green Bee-eater-
Green Bee-eaters stay in colonies of 200-300 individuals.
They roost in pairs in the morning and sand bathe themselves later.
Sand-bathing is to remove parasites by dipping themselves into the sand.
Later the juveniles that were born in the previous breeding season help the adult to build nests for the coming breeding season.
They also feed the new-hatched chicks.
Breeding
Breeding season is from March to June.
The Nests dig tunnels on the sand banks, or they nest in digging hollows in mud.
Green bee-eaters avoid nesting near human habitation.
The female lays 3-5 eggs and incubates for 14 days.
The chicks then fledge in 3-4 weeks.
Also See ⇒ Golden Eagle Facts