‘Merops’ : Rainbow bird or Variegated bee eater (Merops ornatus), 1790s

Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW; Purchased 1887; PXD 226, f. 73

Watercolour

Rainbow bee-eaters have a lifespan of around two years.

The Rainbow bird is also known as the Rainbow bee-eater, Golden swallow or Gold miner.

The Rainbow bee-eater is the only species of bee-eater in Australia.

The Rainbow bee-eater rubs bees and wasps against its perch to remove their stings before eating them.

Rainbow bee-eaters make a liquid “prrp prrp’ call when in flight.

Rainbow birds also known as Merops are colourful with distinctive tail streamers.