A striking, colourful bird, the Rainbow Bee-eater is medium sized, with a long slim curved bill and a long tail with distinctive tail-streamers. It has a golden crown and a red eye set in a wide black stripe from the base of the bill to the ears, which is edged with a thin blue line. The throat is orange-yellow, with a broad black band separating it from a green breast. The upperparts are green, with the flight feathers coppery and black tipped. The underwings are bright orange, with a black edge. The lower abdomen is blue. The tail is black, including the long tail streamers (during breeding), with a blue tinge.
The Azure Kingfisher is a small kingfisher with a long slender black bill and a short tail. The head, neck, upper parts and breast sides are deep azure blue with a violet (purplish) sheen. The neck has a distinctive orange stripe on each side and there is a small orange spot before each eye. The throat is pale orange-white, grading to orange-reddish on belly and undertail. The flanks and sides of the breast are washed purple to violet. The legs and feet are red.
Canon 50D, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Featured In: Amazing Wildlife
The World As We See It Or As We Missed It
Let Animals Stay Free
The Wonder of Wings
Australian Wildlife
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rainbow bee eater, merops ornatus, azure kingfisher, alcedo azurea, shore dweller, australian
Comments
Wow! A terrific shot Deb.
Thanks Al, it’s actually on compilation of shots!
– byronbackyard
Whoa!
beautiful image !
Thanks so much!
– byronbackyard
I was going to ask if it was. Great job Deb.
Thanks Al!
– byronbackyard
Nice vivid colors
Thanks Larry!
– byronbackyard
Congratulations on your feature of this wonderful capture !
I haven’t seen either of these birds … yet …..
Many thanks Trish, they are usually near water and are very small and fast!
– byronbackyard
Thanks so much, very happy making!
– byronbackyard
Many thanks Karue, very happy making!
– byronbackyard
Many congratulations on your wonderful Feature!! :-)
Many thanks Dorothy!
– byronbackyard