Көңілді шағатай құсы (Көңілді шағатай)

Species of bird

The rainbow bee eater (Merops ornatus) is a near passerine bird in the bee eater family Meropidae.

The rainbow bee eater is the only species of Meropidae found in Australia and is monotypic. It was first described by John Latham in 1801. The generic name is Ancient Greek merops which means 'bee eater' and the specific epithet is Latin ornatus 'ornate, adorned'.

Rainbow bee eaters are brilliantly coloured birds that grow to be in length, including the elongated tail feathers, and weighing
They may be found in open woodlands, beaches, dunes, cliffs, mangroves, and farmlands, and they often visit parks and private gardens.

Like all bee eaters, rainbow bee eaters are very social birds. When they are not breeding they roost together in large groups in dense undergrowth or large trees. Breeding season is before and after the rainy season in the north, and from November to January in the south. Rainbow bee eaters are believed to mate for life. The male will bring the female insects while she digs the burrow that will be their nest. The bee eater digs its burrow by balancing on its wings and feet, and digs with its bill, then pushing loose soil backwards with its feet while balancing on its bill. The female bee eater can dig about three inches down every day. The nest tunnel is very narrow, and the birds' bodies press so tightly against the tunnel walls that when the birds enter and exit their movement acts like a piston, pumping in fresh air and pushing out stale air. Rainbow bee eaters have also been known to share their nest tunnels with other bee eaters and sometimes even other species of birds. The female lays between 3 and 7 rounded, translucent white eggs, measuring , which are incubated for about 21 to 24 days until hatching.

Rainbow bee eaters mostly eat flying insects, but, as their name implies, they have a real taste for bees. Following the 11 March 2017 election, the incoming Labor Government suspended this project and reclamation work by volunteers has begun.

The rainbow bee eater is a common, migratory species with a wide distribution and stable population, which is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List.