Green bee-eater - description, habitat, interesting facts

Bee-eater means small birds similar in appearance to sparrows. These individuals belong to the crayfish group and the family of bee-eater. To date, specialists have managed to find out that there are about 24 species of bee-eater. Among them is an individual of a greenish-yellow hue, the characteristics of which we will consider in this material.

View Features

1. It is possible to distinguish these birds among the self-similar by the green shade of feathers. The wings taper to the edges and lie on an elongated tail. The beak is curved in format, the legs are short, the tail is long and can be forked. On the tail, there are sometimes separate feathers that stand out from the total mass.
2. Large individuals live in packs, in the same way fly to winter and breed. Young growth nests separately from the adult generation. As a place for the construction of bird nests, minks are selected, which are dug in the ground or sand. Food consists of flying insects, bee-eater quickly grab them and eat them.
3. All individuals of this species are full of their colors, attract attention with a beautiful melodic voice. Birds squeak when they take off, thereby signaling that they are sailing for a while. Almost all individuals in their coloring are greenish, there may be marks of yellow, blue, orange tone.

Habitat

1. The individuals of the breed group under discussion belong to the migratory species, which means that the birds migrate during the winter period to warm climatic regions. In the summer, they prefer to dwell in European countries in the east and south. Also seen in Asian countries in the southwest.
2. In the winter, they go to hot Africa, are located near the Sahara desert. They also move for wintering to the east of India and to South Arabia.
3. If the birds live in climatic zones where the summer period is short and humid, they try to leave this place as soon as possible and find a new one. Bee-eater breeds in African countries on the north and south sides, and they are also attracted to southwest Asia.

Description

1. On the body of the bird are harmonious, downed, small and graceful. The wings are elongated and pointed, on the tail a blunt cut and several feathers that do not coincide with the main shade.
2. The beak is medium and strong in length. Paws are short, weak. The case has a contrast plumage. The area of ​​the chest, wings, lower body is usually different in color.
3. If we consider all bee-eater conditionally, most of them in the plumage have greenish and yellowish hues. There is a blue glow, brownish and pink pigment.

Food

1. Bee-eater belong to schooling birds. All year they can stay in a group in which there are up to 1000 individuals. During the nesting period, birds try to stay in pairs. But even at this time, they are not shy of their neighbors. As for the characteristic features, such birds are quite lively and active.
2. Often, the individuals in question try to sit on branches or crowns of trees. Because of the short legs, the birds practically do not jump on the branches. As soon as the birds notice the prey, they immediately fly behind it. Often you can see that the bee hover in the air with wings spread. So they look out for prey.
3. Bees are a favorite treat of the birds in question. They also do not mind eating wasps and bumblebees. If the terrain allows, the birds try to hunt only for such insects. In other cases, they can feed on grasshoppers, bugs, locusts, butterflies and dragonflies.
4. In most cases, bees grab prey on the fly. If steppe fires occur, birds try to stay near the line of fire. At this time, various insects try to escape from the fire. Birds immediately catch them on the fly. When individuals go in search of food, one can often see that they accompany ungulates.

Nesting

1. Nesting green bee-eater predominantly occurs in Europe. This period often falls in May. Separately, it is worth mentioning that such birds are monogamous. Before the female makes the laying, the parents spend a long time arranging the nest.
2. Regardless of the subspecies of the considered individuals, they try to nest exclusively in minks. Such feathered recesses do on their own. The considered individuals do not occupy alien and last year's burrows, this is not characteristic of them.

Green bee-eater are rather unusual representatives of birds. Such individuals have quite a few subspecies. Such birds love to enjoy bees, wasps and bumblebees. Interestingly, the birds tear out the sting from insects, after which they are swallowed. All that is not digested, the bee-eater burps.

Video: green bee-eater (Merops persicus)