The African green bee-eater is a species of bird in the family Meropidae. It is found throughout arid regions of Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia, and has expanded its range north to Egypt over the past few decades.
Region
Sahel and Northeast Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs across arid and semi-arid zones from Senegal and the Gambia east through Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and into Eritrea and Ethiopia, with recent expansion along the Nile into Egypt. It favors open scrub, dry savanna, farmlands, wadis, and oases with scattered trees or bushes. Breeding typically requires sandy or friable soil for burrow excavation, including riverbanks, road cuttings, and dunes. It also frequents irrigated fields and villages where aerial insects are abundant.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The African green bee-eater is a small, agile insect-hunter that often perches conspicuously before sallying out to catch bees, wasps, and other flying insects. It deftly removes stings by rubbing prey against a perch before swallowing. The species nests in burrows excavated in sandy banks or flat ground, often in small colonies. Its range spans the Sahel from Senegal to Ethiopia and has expanded north into Egypt in recent decades.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile sallies and brief glides
Social Behavior
Often seen in pairs or small groups perched on exposed twigs, wires, or fence posts. Breeds in burrows dug into sandy banks or level ground, sometimes in small colonies. Pairs are monogamous during breeding and defend the immediate nest area while foraging communally nearby.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Gives soft, rolling prree or trilling churr notes, frequently in flight. Calls are high-pitched, buzzy, and repeated in quick sequences during group foraging and when alarmed.
