Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) [XC252815]
by Peter Boesman from Port Alfred, Western District, Eastern Cape, South Africa (song)
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) [XC657964]
by Joost van Bruggen from Praalhoek, near Jagersfontein road, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa (call)
Nest
In a chamber at the end of a tunnel in a sandy bank. In small colonies.
Subspecies
Has been placed in monotypic genus Dicrocercus on account of its tail shape. However, this appears to be merely an exaggeration of the incipiently fish-tailed shape shown by Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus), Blue-breasted Bee-eater (Merops variegatus) and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates), to which all other morphological and biological characters indicate present species to be closely allied.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
chrysolaimus Jardine & Selby, 1830 - Senegal east to northern Central African Republic.