Little Bee-eater

Fascinating facts about the Little Bee-eater

• A Little Bee-eater catches and eats up to 500 insects in a single day — mostly bees, wasps, and dragonflies — yet spends only 4–6 hours hunting. The rest of the time it perches and digests. For a bird weighing 9 grams, that's the equivalent of a human eating 250 hamburgers before breakfast.
• Before swallowing a bee, the Little Bee-eater rubs it repeatedly against a branch for 5–30 seconds, scraping off the stinger and venom sac like it's using a tiny whetstone. If a bee stings the bird's mouth, the bee-eater doesn't panic — it simply swallows it anyway and lets its stomach lining handle the venom.
• A Little Bee-eater digs its own burrow in riverbanks and termite mounds, using only its beak and feet to excavate tunnels up to 60 centimetres deep. Multiple pairs nest side by side in colonies of 50 or more birds, creating apartment blocks of mud where hundreds of young are raised each season.
• The Little Bee-eater's eyes are positioned on the sides of its head like most birds, but it hunts by looking straight ahead — an unusual trait it shares with only a handful of aerial insect hunters. This forward-facing vision gives it the depth perception of a hawk in a body the size of a sparrow.
• In Africa, Little Bee-eaters time their breeding season precisely to the peak emergence of termites and flying insects after the rains — hatching chicks just as food abundance explodes. If the rains fail, entire colonies skip breeding that year, a survival gamble that only works because the birds live on average 7–8 years and can breed again when conditions improve.

At a glance

About the Little Bee-eater

The Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) is a small, vibrant avian jewel, measuring about 16-17 cm in length, with striking emerald green plumage that glistens under the sun. Its throat is a bright yellow, contrasting sharply with the deep chestnut of its underparts and the distinctive black eye stripe that adds to its charm. Typically found in open woodlands, savannas, and near water bodies across sub-Saharan Africa, these birds prefer habitats with scattered trees that provide suitable perches for hunting. Their agile flight is a spectacle to behold, as they dart through the air with precision, showcasing their remarkable aerial acrobatics while foraging for insects, primarily bees and wasps, which are caught mid-flight with incredible skill. This adaptability in diet allows them to thrive in various environments, often seen hunting in small groups, which adds a social dimension to their behavior; their cheerful calls echoing through the landscape as they communicate with one another, a delightful symphony of nature's orchestra. One particularly surprising trait of the Little Bee-eater is its unique nesting behavior. Unlike many of its relatives, which prefer to nest in tree cavities, this species excavates burrows in sandy banks or embankments, sometimes as deep as a meter. These burrows serve as both a nesting site and a refuge from predators, showcasing the bird's ingenuity in utilizing available resources. The breeding season is a time of intense activity, as both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks, reinforcing their strong pair bonds. As the sun sets over the savanna, the Little Bee-eater's vibrant colors fade into the dusk, but their lively spirit lingers, leaving a lasting impression on all who witness their enchanting presence in the wild.

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