Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus)
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Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus Lichtenstein, AAH, 1793

22 gWeight

The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a species of bee-eater native to sub-Saharan Africa.

Most records: Namibia, Gambia, Botswana

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater has been recorded at 193 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 22 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Murchison Falls NP – North sideUganda320 records
  2. Shai Hills Resource ReserveGhana235 records
  3. Avis DamNamibia226 records
More places
  1. Abuko NRGambia219 records
  2. Bwabwata NP – Mahango riverside loopNamibia207 records
  3. Okonjima Nature ReserveNamibia165 records
  4. Ondudu LodgeNamibia164 records
  5. Daan Viljoen Game ReserveNamibia155 records
  6. Brufut WoodsGambia149 records
  7. Chobe NPBotswana137 records

Countries and regions with the most records

NamibiaGambiaBotswanaUgandaGhanaZambiaZimbabweSouth Africa

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) 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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater weighs around 22 g.

Where does the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in Namibia, Gambia and Botswana.

Is the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater as Least Concern.

What does the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater in?

It belongs to the family Bee-eaters (Meropidae), order Coraciiformes.

At a glance

Weight
22 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
94 mm
Tail
94 mm
Bill
33 mm
Tarsus
10 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Bee-eaters Meropidae
Genus
Merops

Other birds in the genus Merops

Black-headed Bee-eaterBlack-headed Bee-eaterMerops breweriBlue-headed Bee-eaterBlue-headed Bee-eaterMerops muelleriBlue-moustached Bee-eaterBlue-moustached Bee-eaterMerops mentalisBlack Bee-eaterBlack Bee-eaterMerops gularisLittle Bee-eaterLittle Bee-eaterMerops pusillusBlue-breasted Bee-eaterBlue-breasted Bee-eaterMerops variegatusEthiopian Bee-eaterEthiopian Bee-eaterMerops lafresnayiiCinnamon-chested Bee-eaterCinnamon-chested Bee-eaterMerops oreobatesRed-throated Bee-eaterRed-throated Bee-eaterMerops bulockiWhite-fronted Bee-eaterWhite-fronted Bee-eaterMerops bullockoidesSomali Bee-eaterSomali Bee-eaterMerops revoiliiWhite-throated Bee-eaterWhite-throated Bee-eaterMerops albicollis
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Ilya Raskin. ↗

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