Shelter: Branches of tall trees and shrubs, nest are underground
Diet: Flying insects
Water: Bird baths and frog ponds
ReWild Benefit: Pest control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Rainbow Bee-eaters nest underground! They prefer open sandy areas to create their nesting burrow. The burrow can be up to a meter long and leads to a nesting chamber lined with dried grasses. It is not uncommon for home gardens to attract a breeding pair.
If this happens, their burrows and require privacy from pets and visitors. Sadly, most are dug up by suburban cats and dogs living.
Rainbow Bee-eaters spend most of their time perching on the prominent branches of tall trees, shrubs, and other tall structures.
Novel Shelter
Not required.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Rainbow Bee-eaters eat flying insects including dragonflies, bees, butterflies, moths, and many others. A garden with diverse shrubs, trees, clumping grasses, and groundcover will attract insects, and inevitably Rainbow Bee-eaters.
Frog ponds attract flying insects including dragonflies and can provide excellent foraging habitat for Rainbow Bee-eaters.
Providing sources of water
Rainbow Bee-eaters eat a lot of insects and rarely have the need to drink. There are occasional reports where Rainbow Bee-eaters visit bird baths and it would not hurt to have one available in the garden.
ReWild Benefits
Rainbow Bee-eaters to control pest species within the ecosystem. Visit BirdLife Australia to learn more about our native birds. If you have seen one in your neighbourhood or around the home you can record your sighting on Birdata and help scientists monitor their population.
