Eurasian Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Other Names

  European Bee-eater, Golden Bee-eater   Guêpier d'Europe   Bienenfresser   Abejaruco Europeo   Biätare   Bijeneter   Gruccione

World: Afghanistan and Oman at the W of its range thence N to SW and Central Asia then W through Russia top SW Europe and NW Africa. Gets as far N as the British Isles where isolated pairs may nest. In Africa it also breeds in South Africa and southern Namibia. Overwinters in tropical Africa.

Kenya: Occurs on passage below 2000m in grassland, open savannah, cultivation and lightly wooded areas. Common September-November but also seen in smaller numbers in March and April.

This is a large and very brightly coloured Bee-eater which is difficult to mistake for any of the other species seen in Kenya. It is a gregarious bird usually found in small, vocal flocks feeding high overhead. It may also be seen hawking for insects from high perches. Its diet is varied although in Kenya it consists largely of honeybees, wasps and stingless bees as well as any many other flying insects. It is attracted to events such as emerging termite nymphs and will also attend fires to take the insects flushed out.