Merops gularis
The striking Black Bee-eater (Merops gularis) is a captivating member of the Meropidae family, known for its remarkably dark plumage, a stark contrast to its more brightly colored relatives. Measuring approximately 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length, including its elongated central tail feathers, and weighing around 30-45 grams, this species is immediately recognizable by its entirely glossy black body, vibrant scarlet throat patch, and a brilliant blue superciliary stripe extending from the...
Primarily found in lowland and mid-elevation tropical rainforests and dense woodlands, favoring forest edges, clearings, and riparian zones. They typically inhabit areas below 1,500 meters, though occasionally recorded higher.
Mainly aerial insects, predominantly Hymenoptera such as bees, wasps, and hornets, supplemented with dragonflies, butterflies, and beetles. They employ a specialized aerial hawking technique, snatching prey in flight.
Black Bee-eaters are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and engaging in social interactions, often roosting communally in small groups on prominent branches within the forest canopy. Their primary foraging strategy involves sallying forth from a favored, exposed perch to snatch flying...
The Black Bee-eater is an Afrotropical resident species, found across a broad swathe of West and Central Africa. Its distribution extends from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia eastward through Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon, continuing south into Gabon, Congo, the Democratic Republic ...
Least Concern
- The Black Bee-eater is one of only two bee-eater species (the other being the Blue-headed Bee-eater) to possess predominantly black plumage, making it a striking anomaly within its usually vibrantly colored family. - Despite its name, its diet includes a wide range of flying insects beyond just...