Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Merops hirundineus
The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a uncommon bee-eater found in 26 countries, weighing about 22 g. The swallow-tailed bee-eater is a species of bee-eater native to sub-Saharan Africa.
About the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
The swallow-tailed bee-eater is a species of bee-eater native to sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds predominantly on insects, especially bees and their relatives, which are caught in flight from an open perch. Its vivid colors and forked tail are distinctive.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Like other bee-eaters, this is a richly coloured, slender bird. Its colours and readily visible forked tail make it unmistakable. It is mainly green with a yellow throat, blue gorget and black eye stripe and beak. Swallow-tailed bee-eaters can reach a length of 20–22 cm, including the long forked green or blue feathers. Sexes are alike.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Eswatini, South Sudan.
When to see it
The Swallow-tailed 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 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?
- Like other bee-eaters, this is a richly coloured, slender bird. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?
- The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a small sized bird weighing about 22 g.
- Where can you see a Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?
- The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater occurs in 26 countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and the Gambia.
- What birds look similar to a Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?
- The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is most easily confused with the Blue-throated Bee-eater, the White-throated Bee-eater and the Southern Carmine Bee-eater.
- Is the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater endangered?
- The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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