Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Meropidae Scientific name Nyctyornis amictus Higher classification Nyctyornis | |
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Similar Bee‑eater, Bird, Blue‑bearded bee‑eater, Purple‑bearded bee‑eater, Chestnut‑headed bee‑eater | ||
Red bearded bee eater
The red-bearded bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) is a large species of bee-eater found in the Indo-Malayan subregion of South-east Asia. This species is found in openings in patches of dense forest.
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Red bearded bee eater nyctyornis amictus mov
Description
Like other bee-eaters, they are colourful birds with long tails, long decurved beaks and pointed wings. They are large bee-eaters, predominantly green, with a red colouration to face that extends on to the slightly hanging throat feathers to form the “beard”.
Diet
Like other bee-eaters, they predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in flight from perches concealed in foliage. They hunt alone or in pairs, rather than in flocks, and sit motionless for long periods before pursuing their prey.
Behaviour
Like other bee-eaters, they nest in burrows tunnelled into the side of sandy banks, but do not form colonies.
