MENSURAL AND MOULT DATA ON SIX SPECIES OF BEE-EATER IN MOÇAMBIQUE AND MALAŴI

Summary Hanmer, D. B. 1980. Mensural and moult data on six species of bee-eater in Mocambique and Malawi. Ostrich 51:25-38. Wing length, weight and moult data are given for the Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus, Boehm's Bee-eater M. boehmi, European Bee-eater M. apiaster, Bluecheeked Bee-eater M. persicus, Carmine Bee-eater M. nubicus and Swallowtailed Bee-eater M. hirundineus from Mopeia (Mocambique) and Nchalo (Malaŵi). The characters identifying immatures and the probable length of time these are retained, are given with reference to skull pneumatization, retrapped birds, moult or the breeding season for M. pusillus and M. boehmi. Culmen length is given with reference to the breeding season in adults and age in immatures for M. pusillus and M. boehmi. Weights are compared with some published for other parts of Africa. The months during which moult occurred are given. Duration of primary moult and its relation to the breeding season, as well as the order of moult in remiges and rectrices and the age at w...