Meropidae

views updated May 21 2018

Meropidae (bee-eaters; class Aves, order Coraciiformes) A family of small to medium-sized, brightly coloured birds which have long, slender, decurved bills, long, pointed wings, and syndactylous feet. Many have elongated central tail feathers, others (e.g. Merops species) have square or forked tails; some have long throat feathers. They inhabit forest and open country, feed on insects, particularly bees and wasps, and nest colonially in burrows in a bank. There are three genera, with 24 species, many migratory, found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. (Merops apiaster is the only species that breeds in Europe.)

Merops

views updated Jun 08 2018

Merops (bee-eaters) See MEROPIDAE.

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