Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | |||
− | |||
[[Image:Blue-cheeked_Bee-eater.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by MikeB<br>Location: Cuango valley, northern Angola]] | [[Image:Blue-cheeked_Bee-eater.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by MikeB<br>Location: Cuango valley, northern Angola]] | ||
+ | ;[[:category:Merops|Merops]] persicus | ||
+ | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | + | 24-26cm. Green, blue sides to face, black eye stripe, yellow and brown throat, black bill, 2 elongated central tail feathers. Sexes alike. | |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
+ | [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], eastern [[Turkey]] to [[Kazakhstan]]; winters in tropical [[Africa]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
+ | There are 2 subspecies: | ||
+ | * ''M p persicus'' | ||
+ | * ''M p chrysocercus'' | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
+ | Semi-desert with few trees. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
− | + | The diet includes dragonflies, bees, wasps and hornets. | |
+ | They nest colonially in sandy banks, making a long tunnel; 4-8 spherical white eggs are laid and are incubated by both parents. | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Merops+persicus}} | {{GSearch|Merops+persicus}} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Merops]] | |
− | [[Category: |
Revision as of 17:59, 2 December 2008
- Merops persicus
Identification
24-26cm. Green, blue sides to face, black eye stripe, yellow and brown throat, black bill, 2 elongated central tail feathers. Sexes alike.
Distribution
Morocco, Algeria, eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan; winters in tropical Africa.
Taxonomy
There are 2 subspecies:
- M p persicus
- M p chrysocercus
Habitat
Semi-desert with few trees.
Behaviour
The diet includes dragonflies, bees, wasps and hornets.
They nest colonially in sandy banks, making a long tunnel; 4-8 spherical white eggs are laid and are incubated by both parents.