Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
The Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) is a uncommon bee-eater found in 40 countries, weighing about 15 g. The little bee-eater is a bird species in the bee-eater family, Meropidae.
About the Little Bee-eater
The little bee-eater is a bird species in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They should not be confused with the little green bee-eater. Migration is limited to seasonal movements depending on rainfall patterns. They inhabit various biomes, such as savanna, bushveld, and even marsh-like areas.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Members of this species, like other bee-eaters, are rich and brightly coloured slender birds. They have green upper parts, yellow throats, black gorgets, and rich brown upper breasts fading to buffish ochre on the belly. Their wings are green and brown. Their beaks and legs are black. Tail is square in shape with a slight fork or v-shape at the end. They reach a length of 15–17 cm, which makes them the smallest African bee-eater. Sexes are alike. Often silent, their call is a soft "seep". They are often hard to spot since their green backs and wings act as camouflage.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Little Bee-eater can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Little Bee-eater?
- Members of this species, like other bee-eaters, are rich and brightly coloured slender birds. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Little Bee-eater?
- The Little Bee-eater is a small sized bird weighing about 15 g.
- Where can you see a Little Bee-eater?
- The Little Bee-eater occurs in 40 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
- What birds look similar to a Little Bee-eater?
- The Little Bee-eater is most easily confused with the Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, the White-fronted Bee-eater and the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.
- Is the Little Bee-eater endangered?
- The Little Bee-eater is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Little Bee-eater for real
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