Merops nubicus
The Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Merops nubicus, is a breathtaking avian spectacle known for its vibrant plumage and social lifestyle. Measuring 33–36 cm (13–14 in) in length, excluding its distinctive 9 cm (3.5 in) central tail streamers, and weighing between 45-66g, its body is predominantly a rich carmine red. Key identification marks include a striking black mask across the eyes, contrasting with a pale blue crown, rump, and undertail coverts, complemented by a long, slender, decurved blac...
Found in open grasslands and savannas, typically near rivers or other water sources, with scattered trees for perching. It inhabits elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters.
Primarily large flying insects, including bees, wasps, dragonflies, butterflies, and grasshoppers, captured in flight.
Northern Carmine Bee-eaters are highly social and strictly diurnal, frequently observed in large, vocal flocks that roost communally in trees outside the breeding season. Their foraging strategy is predominantly aerial hawking; they sally from an exposed perch to capture flying insects mid-air wi...
The Northern Carmine Bee-eater possesses a broad distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, forming a wide band from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east. Its primary breeding range encompasses countries such as Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, and ...
Least Concern
- The Northern Carmine Bee-eater is one of only two species in the Meropidae family to exhibit such a striking carmine-red plumage, the other being its close relative, the Southern Carmine Bee-eater. - They are expert at handling stinging insects; before consuming a bee or wasp, they repeatedly s...