SPECIES PROFILE
THE common name for the Australian species of bee-eater is “rainbow bird”. It is an apt term for the streamlined, harlequin-coloured members of the family Meropidae, all 32 species of them. Warm pastel green is the predominant colour, usually complemented with additional hues. Even the shy forest-dwelling and darker species have attractive plumage. A black mask and coloured throat patch are found in most species. Sexes are similar in most cases, although females are often slightly smaller. Bee-eaters chatter constantly, though males are more vocal and assertive.
Initially, the maintenance of bee-eaters in captivity was hindered by the tendency of wild-caught species to eat only certain types of flying insects. Later experience has shown that hand-reared bee-eaters can be coaxed to eat insectivorous mixtures, mealworms, crickets, wax moths, spiders, flies and chopped worms.
Bee-eaters don't
