Red-bearded Bee-eater

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Red-bearded Bee-eater

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Nyctyornis
Species: N. amictus
Binomial name
Nyctyornis amictus
(Temminck, 1824)

The Red-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus is a large species of bee-eater found in the Indo-Malayan subregion of South-east Asia. This species is found in openings in patches of dense forest.

Like other bee-eaters, they are colourful birds with long tails, long downturned bills and pointed wings. They are large bee-eaters, predominantly green, with a red colouration to face that extends on to the slightly hanging throat feathers to form the “beard”.

Like other bee-eaters, they predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in flight from perches concealed in foliage. They hunt alone or in pairs, rather than in flocks, and sit motionless for long periods before pursuing their prey.

Like other bee-eaters, they nest in burrows tunneled into the side of sandy banks, but do not form colonies.

[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Nyctyornis amictus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 27 February 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  • The Hamlyn photographic guide to birds of the world, foreword by Christopher Perrins; general editor: Andrew Gosler, London : Hamlyn, 1991, ISBN 0-600-57239-0