Tuesday, July 3, 2012

>Merops oreobates (Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater)

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
At Ruhija, SW Uganda
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Coraciiformes
Family:Meropidae
Genus:Merops
Species:M. oreobates
Binomial name
Merops oreobates
(Sharpe, 1892)
The cinnamon-chested bee-eater (Merops oreobates) is a species of bird in the Meropidae family. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya,Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

This bird occurs in upland regions and can be found associated with wooded hillsides and forest edges. It can be distinguished from the somewhat similar Little Bee-eater by its larger size, darker colouring, white cheek patches and the upland habitat where it is found. Its diet consists mainly of honeybees although it also eats moths, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles and other flying insects. It seems to be an adaptable species and able to withstand loss of its forest habitat. It measures 22 cm (8.7 in) in length and weighs 17–38 g (0.60–1.3 oz).

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