Bee-eater

Bee-eater ( Merops apiaster )

The bee-eaters or lockers ( Meropidae ) constitute a family of medium-sized birds that are mostly native to the tropics. They are provided to the Racke birds ( Coraciiformes ). The Nachtspinte ( Nyctyornis ) are sometimes separated as a distinct family Nyctyornithidae.

The family consists of three genera and 26 species.

Most species live in open terrain and lurking on a waiting insects on which they prey in flight. Often bees and wasps are the preferred food. Bee-eaters live socially and form nesting colonies, which consist of tunnels in the sandy slopes.

Genera and species

• Nachtspinte ( Jardine & Selby Nyctyornis 1830) Rotbartspint ( N. Amictus )
• Blaubartspint ( N. athertoni )

• Celebesspint (M. forsteni )

• Weißkehlspint (M. albicollis )
• Bee-eater ( M. Apiaster )
• Böhmspint (M. boehmi )
• Schwarzkopfspint (M. breweri )
• Grünstirnspint (M. bulocki )
• Weißstirnspint (M. bullockoides )
• Purpurspint (M. gularis )
• Schwalbenschwanzspint (M. hirundineus )
• Braunkopfspint (M. leschenaulti )
• Rosenspint (M. malimbicus )
• Saphirspint (M. muelleri )
• Karminspint (M. nubicoides )
• Scharlachspint (M. nubicus )
• Bergspint or Schwarzbrustspint (M. oreobates )
• Smaragdspint (M. orientalis)
• Regenbogenspint (M. ornatus )
• Blauwangenspint (M. persicus )
• Blauschwanzspint (Merops philippinus )
• Zwergspint (M. pusillus)
• Madagaskarspint (M. superciliosus )
• Blaubrustspint (M. variegatus )
• Malaienspint (M. viridis)

Weißkehlspint (Merops albicollis )

Weißstirnspint (Merops bullockoides )

Smaragdspint (Merops orientalis)