African green bee-eater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African green bee-eater |
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| Subspecies cleopatra in Fayoum, Egypt | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Merops
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| Species: |
viridissimus
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The African green bee-eater (Merops viridissimus) is a colorful bird. It is part of the Meropidae family, which are birds known for eating insects. You can find this bird in dry areas across Africa. Its home stretches from Senegal in the west all the way to Ethiopia in the east. In recent years, it has even moved further north into Egypt.
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About the African Green Bee-Eater
Scientists group living things into categories. This helps us understand how they are related. The African green bee-eater is a type of bird.
How Scientists Classify Them
For a while, the African green bee-eater was thought to be the same species as the Asian green bee-eater. Scientists like Charles Sibley and Burt Monroe grouped them together in 1990. But later, in 2014, experts decided they were different species. This decision was made by groups like the IUCN Red List and BirdLife International.
Then, in 2020, a new study looked closely at these birds. It found big differences in how they looked and the sounds they made. Because of this, the International Ornithologists' Union also decided to separate them in 2021. Now, the African green bee-eater is seen as its own unique species.
Different Types of African Green Bee-Eaters
Within the African green bee-eater species, there are three main types. These are called subspecies. They are slightly different depending on where they live:
- M. v. viridissimus: This type lives in most of Africa. You can find it from Senegal to Ethiopia.
- M. v. flavoviridis: This type is found in Chad and eastern Sudan.
- M. v. cleopatra: This type lives in northern Sudan and the Nile Valley in Egypt.
What They Look Like
The African green bee-eater is easy to spot. Its most special feature is its throat. It has a light yellowish-green throat. This is different from some other bee-eaters, which have blue throats. The sounds it makes are also unique.
Where They Live
These birds live in dry areas of Africa. Their home is mostly in the Sahel region. This area stretches from the west coast to the east coast of Africa. It goes from Senegal to Ethiopia.
The African green bee-eater has been doing very well. It has used changes in farming and more water for irrigation to its advantage. This means there are more of them now. They have even spread along the Nile River. Before 2001, they moved into Egypt. Now, they live as far north as the Nile Delta. Because their numbers are growing and they benefit from human changes to the land, they are not considered to be in danger.
See Also
- List of birds of Egypt
- List of birds of Ethiopia
- List of birds of Senegal
