Merops breweri
The Black-headed Bee-eater (Merops breweri) is a striking and relatively stout member of the bee-eater family, distinguished by its unique coloration among its kin. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm in length, with an additional 7-8 cm for its subtle central tail streamers, this species sports a dramatic glossy black cap that extends from the crown to the nape and ear coverts. This black cap contrasts sharply with a bright white chin, throat, and upper breast, while the rest of its body is a v...
Dense lowland rainforests, forest clearings, and gallery forests are its primary habitats, typically at elevations below 800 meters.
Primarily feeds on flying insects, with a strong preference for Hymenoptera (bees and wasps), but also consumes dragonflies, butterflies, and beetles, caught in mid-air.
The Black-headed Bee-eater is a diurnal species, often observed singly, in pairs, or small family groups, typically numbering up to five or six individuals. These birds are classic aerial insectivores, perching high on exposed branches of dead trees or emergent canopy trees, from which they sally...
The Black-headed Bee-eater is a resident, non-migratory species found exclusively in the lowland rainforests and gallery forests of West-Central Africa. Its distribution spans from southeastern Nigeria and Ghana (localized) eastward through southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko Is...
Least Concern
- The Black-headed Bee-eater is one of only two African bee-eaters that primarily inhabit dense forest, setting it apart from most of its open-country relatives. - Its scientific name honors British ornithologist Dr. W. Brewer, who first described the species. - Despite its 'bee-eater' moniker, i...