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Green Bee-eater

Merops orientalis

Description:

Like other bee-eaters, this species is a richly coloured, slender bird. The sexes are not visually distinguishable. The entire plumage is bright green and tinged with blue especially on the chin and throat. The crown and upper back are tinged with golden rufous. The flight feathers are rufous washed with green and tipped with blackish. A fine black line runs in front of and behind the eye. The iris is crimson and the bill is black while the legs are dark grey. The feet are weak with the three toes joined at the base.

Habitat:

Seen near a beach.

Notes:

A study suggested that Green Bee-eaters may be capable of interpreting the behaviour of human observers. They showed an ability to predict whether a human at a particular location would be capable of spotting the nest entrance and then behaved appropriately to avoid giving away the nest location. The ability to look at a situation from another's point of view was previously believed to be possessed only by primates.

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9 Comments

Wild Things
Wild Things 10 years ago

Thanks Shanna!

ShannaB
ShannaB 10 years ago

Beautiful.

Wild Things
Wild Things 10 years ago

Thanks Mrinal!

Mrinal Shekhar
Mrinal Shekhar 10 years ago

Lovely

Wild Things
Wild Things 10 years ago

Thank you Stefania :-)

Wild Things
Wild Things 11 years ago

Thank you Utheowyn!

Utheowyn
Utheowyn 11 years ago

You framed the gesture very well :)

Wild Things
Wild Things 11 years ago

Thanks Jeannette.

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Great action shot :)

Wild Things
Spotted by
Wild Things

Maharashtra, India

Spotted on Mar 8, 2013
Submitted on Mar 8, 2013

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Reference

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