The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a vibrant green African bird with a striking forked blue tail, yellow throat, and black eye stripe, known for catching bees and wasps mid-air from open perches in wooded savannas, nesting colonially in sandy banks, and sharing communal feeding/roosting habits. These colorful insectivores are easily approached, display distinct behaviors like removing stings before eating, and form pairs or small colonies, making them easily identifiable.
The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a species of bee-eater native to sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds predominantly on insects, especially bees and their relatives, which are caught in flight from an open perch. Its vivid colors and forked tail are distinctive.
Like other bee-eaters, this is a richly coloured, slender bird. Its colours and readily visible forked tail make it unmistakable. It is mainly green with a yellow throat, blue gorget and black eye stripe and beak. Swallow-tailed bee-eaters can reach a length of 20–22 cm, including the long forked green or blue feathers. Sexes are alike.
It breeds in savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It is partially migratory, moving in response to rainfall patterns. This is a species which prefers somewhat more wooded country than most bee-eaters.
This attractive bird is readily approached. Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. The swallowtail has a preference for honeybees.
These bee-eaters nest as pairs or in very small colonies in sandy banks, or similar flat ground. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 2 to 4 spherical, white eggs are laid. They also feed and roost communally.
The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a vibrantly colored African bird known for its striking green body, yellow throat, blue collar, and deeply forked blue tail, catching insects like bees and wasps in flight from savanna perches. These social birds form flocks, nest in sandy bank tunnels, and meticulously remove stings from their prey by rubbing them against a perch before eating.
Appearance & Identification
Colors: Bright green body, yellow throat, blue collar/chin, black eye stripe, and distinctive deep blue, forked tail.
Size: Medium-sized, about 20-22 cm long, with the tail making up a significant portion.
Sexes: Males and females look alike.
Habitat & Range
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa, common in West, East, and Southern Africa.
Environment: Prefers open woodlands, savannas, and scrubby areas, often near water.
