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WoodlandCavity nestSmall · 30 g
ID tip
Rainbow bee-eaters are brilliantly coloured birds that grow to be 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) in length, including the elongated tail feathers, and weighing 20–33 g (0.71–1.16 oz). The upper back and wings are green, and the lower back and under-tail coverts are bright blue. The undersides of the wings and primary flight feathers are rufous to copper with green edges and tipped with black, and the tail is black to deep violet. The rainbow bee-eater's two central tail feathers are longer than the other tail feathers, and are longer in the male rainbow bee-eaters than in the females.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Rainbow Bee-eater
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Rainbow Bee-eater
The map shades 5 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Taiwan, Philippines.
About the Rainbow Bee-eater
The rainbow bee-eater is a bird species in the bee-eater family Meropidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Blue-tailed Bee-eaterMerops philippinusThis species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird.
Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillusMembers of this species, like other bee-eaters, are rich and brightly coloured slender birds.
Chestnut-headed Bee-eaterMerops leschenaultiThe chestnut-headed bee-eater is 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in) in overall length and weighs 26–33 g (0.92–1.16 oz).
Side by side: Asian Green Bee-eater vs Rainbow Bee-eater · European Bee-eater vs Rainbow Bee-eater · Blue-tailed Bee-eater vs Rainbow Bee-eater · Little Bee-eater vs Rainbow Bee-eater · Chestnut-headed Bee-eater vs Rainbow Bee-eater
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