Merops persicus -- Pallas, 1773 ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- CORACIIFORMES -- MEROPIDAE Common names: Blue-cheeked Bee-eater; Guêpier de Perse European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA)

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

The bird is considered vagrant in the EU27 and is assessed as Not Applicable (NA) for this region. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Russian Federation; Turkey Vagrant: Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Denmark; Finland; France; Greece; Italy; Malta; Montenegro; Netherlands; Serbia; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Population The European population is estimated at 5,300-15,500 pairs, which equates to 10,500-31,100 mature individuals. The species does not occur in the EU27. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF . Trend In Europe the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology In its breeding grounds, this species occupies semi-desert, steppe, dunes, saline pans, cultivation, thorn woodland and sandy slopes with small gulleys, ravines, quarries, pits and embankments. It breeds mainly in sand deserts near bodies of water fringed with reeds and tamarisks. Eggs generally are laid from March to June, but in any one region all birds lay within three weeks of each other. It nests solitarily, or more commonly in loose colonies (Fry and Kirwan 2012). The nest is a tunnel one to two metres long ending in an enlarged chamber, excavated into sloping ground, vertical bank or even nearly flat ground (Snow and Perrins 1998). Clutch size is typically seven or eight eggs (Fry and Kirwan 2012). It feeds entirely on winged insects, such as dragonflies and damselflies which are important throughout the year. The species is migratory and winters almost entirely within Africa (Snow and Perrins 1998). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breeding Forest - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breeding Altitude max. 2200 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The species suffers from human disturbance, particularly in colonies near human habitation. Agricultural development can destroy or displace flat-ground colonies (Fry and Kirwan 2012). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Ecosystem conversion Human intrusions & Recreational Timing Scope Severity Impact disturbance activities Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown Stresses Species disturbance Conservation Conservation Actions Underway There are currently no known specific conservation measures for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed Nesting sites should be protected from disturbance during the breeding season and as well as the development of agriculture. Research should be undertaken into the impacts posed by agriculture and disturbance as well as studies examining factors of nest site selection (Yuan et al. 2006). Bibliography Fry, H. and Kirwan, G.M. 2012. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.). 2012. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55844 on 25 February 2015). Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic – Concise Edition – Volume 1 – Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press. Yuan, H.W., Wang, M.K., Chang, W.L., Wang, L.P., Chen, Y.M., and Chiou, C.R. 2006. Soil composition affects the nesting behavior of blue-tailed bee-eaters (Merops philippinus) on Kinmen Island. Ecological Research 21(4): 510-512. Map (see overleaf)