thumb|Juvenile M. h. hirundineus, Namibia
thumb|M. hirundineus chrysolaimus in [[The Gambia]]
alt=Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus hirundineus) in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa |thumb|Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus hirundineus) in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa
The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a species of bee-eater native to sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds predominantly on insects, especially bees and their relatives, which are caught in flight from an open perch. Its vivid colors and forked tail are distinctive.
Description
Like other bee-eaters, this is a richly coloured, slender bird. Its colours and readily visible forked tail make it unmistakable. It is mainly green with a yellow throat, blue gorget and black eye stripe and beak. Swallow-tailed bee-eaters can reach a length of 20–22 cm, including the long forked green or blue feathers. Sexes are alike.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
File:153 Swallow-tailed bee-eater in flight in Etosha National Park Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg|Swallow-tailed bee-eater in flight in Etosha National Park, Namibia
</gallery>
Distribution and habitat
It breeds in savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It is partially migratory, moving in response to rainfall patterns. This is a species which prefers somewhat more wooded country than most bee-eaters.
Behaviour
This attractive bird is readily approached. Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. The swallowtail has a preference for honeybees.