FaunaHub

Bee-eater (family Meropidae)

BirdInsectivoreMigratory

European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) perched, showing its colourful plumage.

European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia.

Image: El Golli Mohamed, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Bee-eaters are slender, brilliantly coloured birds of the family Meropidae, found across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As their name suggests, they specialise in catching bees, wasps, and other flying insects on the wing. The animal shown here is the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), a dazzling, long-distance migrant.

With pointed wings, a slim down-curved bill, and often jewel-like plumage, bee-eaters are agile aerial hunters and a favourite of birdwatchers wherever they occur.

Conservation note: many bee-eaters, including the European bee-eater, are widespread and not of conservation concern, while some species are more localised. Verify a particular species' status at iucnredlist.org.

Habitat & Range

Bee-eaters favour warm, open country — grassland, savanna, farmland, riverbanks, and open woodland — with perches for hunting and earth banks for nesting. Migratory species such as the European bee-eater breed in temperate regions and winter in warmer areas, covering long distances.

Diet

Bee-eaters are insectivores that catch flying insects — especially bees, wasps, and dragonflies — in mid-air. For stinging prey, a bee-eater typically returns to a perch and removes the sting by beating and rubbing the insect against the branch before swallowing it, reducing the risk of being stung.

Behavior

Bee-eaters are social, often seen in groups, and many nest colonially in tunnels dug into sandy banks or flat ground. They hunt from exposed perches, sallying out to seize passing insects with quick, graceful flight. Some species are cooperative breeders, with helpers assisting a pair in raising young.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Bee-eaters are admired for their colours and aerial skill and are popular with birdwatchers. They occasionally come into minor conflict with beekeeping, though their overall impact is generally limited. The main concerns for some species are habitat change and loss of nesting banks. For current status, consult authoritative sources.

More photos of the bee-eater

European bee-eaters holding insect prey.

European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) with prey.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Bee-eater

Do bee-eaters really eat bees?
Yes. Bee-eaters specialise in catching bees, wasps, and other flying insects in mid-air. To deal with stinging prey, a bee-eater usually carries it back to a perch and rubs and beats it against the branch to remove the sting before eating it.
How do bee-eaters avoid being stung?
They handle stinging insects carefully: after catching a bee or wasp, a bee-eater returns to a perch and repeatedly strikes and rubs the insect against the branch, which removes or discharges the sting before the bird swallows the prey.
Where do bee-eaters nest?
Most bee-eaters nest in tunnels they excavate into sandy banks or sometimes flat ground, and many breed in colonies. Some species are cooperative breeders, with extra adults helping to raise the chicks.
Do bee-eaters migrate?
Many do. The European bee-eater, for example, is a long-distance migrant that breeds in temperate regions and spends the non-breeding season in warmer areas, while some tropical bee-eaters are more sedentary.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.