Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

The Little Bee-eater is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It is resident in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It should not be confused with the Little Green Bee-eater, "Merops orientalis". Migration is limited to seasonal movements depending on rainfall patterns.
Little Beeeater My first day in Masai mara.No matter how many times you take a snap of this bird,you take it again.So beautiful. Birds,Geotagged,Green,Kenya,Little Bee-eater,Masai Mara,Merops pusillus,Winter,beautiful

Appearance

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. It has green upper parts, yellow throat, black gorget, and rich brown upper breast fading to buffish ocre on the belly. The wings are green and brown, and the beak is black. It reaches a length of 15–17 cm, which makes it the smallest African bee-eater. Sexes are alike. Often silent, their call is a soft "seep."
Little Bee-Eater (Merops pusillus) Tsavo West NP, Kenya. Mar 4, 2023 Geotagged,Kenya,Little Bee-eater,Merops pusillus,Summer

Distribution

This is an abundant and tame bird, familiar throughout its range. There have been estimated to be between 60-80 million Little Bee-eaters. It breeds in open country with bushes, preferably near water.
Little Bee-eater closeup at Arusha National Park We were thrilled to spot this one in Arusha National Park, Tanzania. It certainly is one of the most beautiful birds we ever saw in the wild with our own eyes, and it has a beautiful name to match it. Africa,Arusha,Arusha National Park,Little Bee-eater,Merops pusillus,Tanzania

Reproduction

Unlike most bee-eaters, these are solitary nesters, making a tunnel in sandy banks, or sometimes in the entrance to an Aardvark den. They lay 4 to 6 spherical white eggs. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs. These birds roost communally, lined up on a tree branch.
little_bee_eater got lucky with this little bird in failing light on the banks of the Chobe Geotagged,Little Bee-eater,Merops pusillus,Namibia

Food

Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. This species often hunts from low perches, maybe only a metre or less high. Before eating its meal, a bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderCoraciiformes
FamilyMeropidae
GenusMerops
SpeciesM. pusillus