Animal Pictures Archive
Animal Photo Album

New Photos Animal News Animal Sounds Animal Movies Upload Photo Copyright Korean
Funny Animal Photos Monsters in Animalia Wiki Articles   Fun Facts about Animals Links Home Mobile A.P.A.
Delete Modify    
Identification needed for this bee-eater - aas50707.jpg (1/1) latin dict size=108   common dict size=512
Image Info Original File Name: aas50707-Little_Bee-eater-perching_on_branch.jpg File size : 63472 bytes File date : 1999:01:21 09:00:00 Resolution: 1201x800 Jpeg process : Baseline Posted Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.animals Posted Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 18:10:42 +0900
Author Name (E-mail): Kim Jinsuk (jskim@bioinfo.kordic.re.kr)
Subject Identification needed for this bee-eater - aas50707.jpg (1/1)

Identification needed for this bee-eater - aas50707.jpg (1/1); DISPLAY FULL IMAGE.
Email : E-Card | Poster | Web Master    Delete   Edit Info   Admin

Description
Identification needed for this bee-eater - aas50707.jpg (1/1)

--
From Broderbund ClickArt 200,000 CD
Private purpose only. Enjoy it.


Comments
========
From: pardosa@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Identification needed for this bee-eater - aas50707.jpg (1/1)
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 13:14:30 GMT

Most likely a Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates). Ranges from Sudan
to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and northern and western Tanzania.
Could be confused with Merops variegatus, but the latter rarely perches in
trees.

Family: Meropidae
Order: Coraciiformes

source: J.G. WILLIAMS & N. ARLOTT, A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa

Pardosa

Comments
========
From: groenhuys@riool.nl (Robert van Groenhuys)
Subject: Re: Identification needed for this bee-eater - aas50707.jpg (1/1)
Date: 20 Jan 1999 22:00:09 GMT

In article <36a5d173.1106768@news.online.be>, pardosa@hotmail.com says...
>
>Most likely a Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates). Ranges from Sudan
>to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and northern and western Tanzania.
>Could be confused with Merops variegatus, but the latter rarely perches in
>trees.
>
>Family: Meropidae
>Order: Coraciiformes
>
>source: J.G. WILLIAMS & N. ARLOTT, A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa
>
>Pardosa


I doubt very much if this is an oreobates. And I don't think it's a variegatus
either. All the evidence points to it being a Little Bee-eater (Melittophagus
pusillus
), a species with which I have a lot of first-hand experience as a
field ornithologist in Africa. My first reaction on seeing this photo was: "a
Little Bee-eater!", and subsequent literature studies would seem to confirm it.

The following facts point to that conclusion:

- oreobates has a white patch on the side of the neck, below the black
eye-stripe. This bird shows no such patch.
- the bird gives the impression of being very small. Compare it to the branch
on which it's sitting; the branch appears to be very thin, leaves just budding.
oreobates is considerably larger and heavier than pusillus; variegatus is just
marginally larger.
- this bird is rather pale on the underside. Now, this may be an effect of worn
plumage, but in fact one of the different pusillus subspecies is noted for
having a pale underside. The other two species are usually rich black and
bluish on their breasts.
- pusillus is known for appearing singly or in small groups, and it is very
flycatcher-like in its behavior, liking to sit on a perch and make small forays
after passing insects. It's also a rather tame species which can easily be
approached for photography.

In my opinion this must surely be a Little Bee-eater (Melittophagus pusillus).
If not, the most likely candidate is the Blue-breasted Bee-eater (Melittophagus
variegatus
). The Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Melittophagus oreobates) seems
quite unlikely.

/Robert

Comments
Guest Delete
Scientific Name: Merops pusillus Müller, 1776
Common Names: English – Little Bee-eater, French – Guêpier nain
French: Guêpier nain German: Zwergspint Spanish: Abejaruco chico
Taxonomy: Merops pusillus Statius Müller, 1776, Senegal.
Copyright Info AnimmalPicturesArchive.com does not have the copyright for this image. This photograph or artwork is copyright by the photographer or the original artist. If you are to use this photograph, please contact the copyright owner or the poster.

Search Major Animal Websites
Misidentified?
Need further identification?
Any comment?
Leave your message here.
Name :    PASSWORD :
Email :
 
Search
Back List Upload Home Korean
CopyLeft © since 1995, Animal Pictures Archive. All rights may be reserved.
Powered by KRISTAL IRMS

Stats