The Rainbow Bee-eater is one of Australia’s most elegant birds, instantly recognisable by its slender shape, long tail streamers and vivid mix of green, blue, yellow and chestnut plumage. Found across much of mainland Australia, including New South Wales during the warmer months, it favours open woodland, riverbanks and sandy areas where it can nest in burrows dug into the ground.
As its name suggests, the Rainbow Bee-eater feeds mainly on flying insects such as bees, wasps and dragonflies, which it catches mid-air with remarkable precision. Agile, fast and often seen perched on exposed branches scanning for prey, it is a summer favourite for birdwatchers and photographers alike.
Photographed in Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, WA
