Merops pusillus
The Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) is Africa's smallest and arguably most captivating bee-eater, a tiny jewel of the avian world measuring just 15-17 cm (6-6.7 in) in length and weighing a mere 10-15 grams. Its plumage is a resplendent emerald green on the upperparts, contrasting with a vibrant yellow throat, a striking black gorget, and rufous-orange underparts that deepen towards the belly. A prominent black stripe across the eye, bordered by white, is a distinctive field mark that help...
This adaptable bee-eater thrives in a variety of open or lightly wooded habitats, including savannas, grasslands, cultivated areas, and particularly prefers riverine thickets and shrubland near water. It is typically found at lower to moderate elevations, rarely exceeding 2000 meters.
Little Bee-eaters are obligate insectivores, feeding almost exclusively on flying insects, predominantly bees, wasps, and hornets, but also dragonflies, butterflies, and beetles. They employ a 'sally-and-catch' foraging method, launching from a perch to snatch prey mid-air.
Little Bee-eaters are diurnal and highly active insectivores, spending their days perched conspicuously on low branches, fences, or tall grasses, from which they launch swift aerial sallies to capture prey. Roosting often occurs communally in dense vegetation or reeds, offering safety in numbers....
The Little Bee-eater is a widely distributed resident across much of sub-Saharan Africa, extending from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward through the Sahel region to Ethiopia and Eritrea, and southward to Angola, Zambia, and eastern South Africa. Its range covers a vast array of countries,...
Least Concern
- The Little Bee-eater is the smallest species in the entire bee-eater family (Meropidae), earning its scientific epithet 'pusillus' which means 'tiny' in Latin. - These birds are masters at disarming stinging insects; they will repeatedly bash and rub the insect against a branch to remove its st...