THE NONBREEDING RANGE OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN BRED EUROPEAN BEE-EATERS<i>MEROPS API ASTER</i>

Abstract

Summary Brooke, R. K. & Herroelen, P. 1988. The nonbreeding range of southern African bred European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster. Ostrich 59: 63–66. Southern African bred European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster moult during the mid-year months when their Palaearctic counterparts are breeding and in worn plumage. A study of specimen and literature records on this basis enables us to state that southern African bred birds winter thinly from Angola and Malaŵi to Rwanda. Within southern Africa birds seen in September before the 20th are almost certainly southern African bred birds returning to their breeding grounds, and after 15 April are most unlikely to be birds returning to the Palaearctic. Equivalent dates north of 15 S are 1 September and 30 April. Overwintering in southern Africa occurs but is rare.