Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Other Names

    Guêpier de Perse   Blauwangenspint   Abejaruco Persa   Grön biätare   Groene Bijeneter   Gruccione egiziano

World: Northern and sub-Saharan Africa, and from NE Egypt and the Near East through the Middle East and Southern Russia to Asia. Winters in southern Africa

Kenya: Bush and wooded habitats near water, mainly in the southern half of the country

The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is a regular palearctic migrant between October and April. At Lake Baringo it can be seen in numbers during this period. It alternates in this niche with the Madagascar Bee-eater (which is a May to September migrant in the same region). In terms of identification the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is most easily recognised by its very bright, vivid green colour. As a distinguishing feature this is far more obvious than its blue cheeks! This specimen was photographed at Lake Baringo, in January 1999