About the Northern Carmine Bee-eater
The northern carmine bee-eater is a brightly-coloured bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. It is found across northern tropical Africa, from Senegal eastwards to Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the southern carmine bee-eater which has a carmine coloured throat rather than the blue throat of the northern species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly colored, slender bird, predominantly carmine in color, except for a greenish blue head and throat and distinctive black mask. This species has red eyes, a black, pointed, decurved beak, and elongated central tail feathers. The sexes are similar in appearance, and the juveniles can be distinguished from adults by their lack of elongated central tail feathers and the pinkish brown coloration of their mantle, chest to belly, and flanks. The call is a deep, throaty tunk in flight; a series of rik notes when perched.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Northern Carmine Bee-eater lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in South Africa, Canada, Central African Republic, Liberia, Zambia.
When to see the Northern Carmine Bee-eater
Peak activity in February · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Red-throated Bee-eaterMerops bulockiThe adult red-throated bee eater grows to about 20 to 22 cm (8 to 9 in) in length with a moderately long tail, but no streamers.
Black Bee-eaterMerops gularisThe black bee-eater grows to a length of about 20 cm (8 in).
African Green Bee-eaterMerops viridissimusIt is 16–18 centimetres (6.3–7.1 in) long excluding the elongated central tail feathers, which are an additional 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) long.
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