Distribution and search for contact zones in the genus Merops (Coraciiformes: Meropidae)in Fars province, Southern Iran

The Bee-eaters, family Meropidae, are a group of 26 species of brightly colored coraciiform birds. They are distributed throughout the Palaeotropics and southern Eurasia. Three species of Bee-eaters of the genus Merops are recorded from Iran including the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) that breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia, the Blue-cheeked bee-eater (Merops persicus) that breeds in Northern Africa, and the Middle East from eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan and India and finally, the Green bee-eater (Merops orientalis) that widely distributed in Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and some authorities split it into three species. Breeding distribution of the European bee-eater come to close with the Green bee-eater in southern Iran especially in Fars province. A survey was conducted to assess the distribution of the genus Merops and to identify contact zones of the European and Green bee-eaters in Fars province during spring, summer 2017 and spring 2018. The results show that the European beeeater is mostly restricted in the northern and central parts of the province, the Blue-cheeked bee-eater in the western parts of the province and the Green bee-eater in the western and southern parts of the province. Also, some contact zones recognized between the two above mentioned species in the southern and southwestern of the province. Results from this study provide the basic knowledge on the distribution and contact zones between Bee-eaters for developing conservation strategies

کلیدواژه ها:

Distribution ، Bee-eater ، Conservation ، Coraciiformes