The black bee-eater (Merops gularis) is a species of bird in the Meropidae family. It is native to the 𝘼𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 rainforest, where it is found on the edges of the jungle and in secondary forests.
The black bee-eater is a bird that grows to about 20 cm (8 in) long. It is a predominantly black bird, with a scarlet chin and throat, with a chest and belly heavily marbled with turquoise/blue flecks. It has pale blue eyebrows, tail coverts and rump.
Good light shows off the electric blue belly and bright red belly of this bird in a dazzling way.
Males and females appear almost identical.
Outside of the breeding season, these birds appear greener.
This species can be found throughout the sub-𝙎𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖. There are two subspecies: M. g. gularis, which is found from 𝙎𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖 𝙇𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 to the southeast of 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖. It has a blue forehead and a distinctive bright cobalt blue brow stripe. Some southeastern and southern western birds are intermediate between this and M. g. australis, found from the southeast 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖 to the northeast 𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙤 𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙤, from south to north 𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙖. This subspecies does not have a brow stripe; the forehead is black, sometimes with some blue feathers; the light sky blue stripes on the chest and even the belly sometimes have scarlet tips. Wing slightly longer than the nominate subspecies.
As their name suggests, black bee-eaters feed on flying insects.
There are few details available about the nesting habits of this bird. However, most bee-eaters are known to be gregarious. They form colonies and nest in burrows excavated in vertical sandbanks, often on the banks of a river or on flat land. As they live mainly in colonies, a large number of nests can be seen together. The eggs are white and there are usually five in the clutch.
The black bee-eater has a wide distribution and although the population size has not been quantified, it is said to be widespread and common with a large total population. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as “least concern.”
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