Blue-headed bee-eater
| Blue-headed bee-eater | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Family: | Meropidae |
| Genus: | Merops |
| Species: | M. muelleri |
| Binomial name | |
| Merops muelleri (Cassin, 1857) | |
The blue-headed bee-eater (Merops muelleri) is a species of bird in the Meropidae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, and Kenya.
The blue-headed bee-eater is a rainforest bird usually found singly. It perches on a high branch in the canopy beside tracks and clearings and swoops down on small butterflies, honeybees and other insects before returning to its original perch. The western populations have contracted over the years and the birds are now under threat throughout their range. This is mostly due to human impact through deforestation and cattle grazing.[2]
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2013). "Merops muelleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ↑ Kenya Birds
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