Overview
A flash of green and gold darting from a low branch often reveals one of Tanzania’s most charming birds. Barely larger than a sparrow, the little bee-eater is a vivid presence in savannah, grassland and wetland edges.
Its green back, yellow throat, black eye-stripe and warm chestnut breast make it easy to recognise at close range. Little bee-eaters usually hunt from low, exposed perches, launching into short, agile flights to catch bees, wasps, flies, beetles and other insects in mid-air.
Despite their name, bees make up only part of a much broader insect diet. Before swallowing stinging prey, the bird may repeatedly strike or rub it against a branch to remove the sting and venom sac.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a small, slender bee-eater with bright green upperparts, a yellow throat edged in black, a chestnut breast and a dark stripe through the eye. The short, square-ended tail lacks the long streamers seen in some larger bee-eaters.
Little bee-eaters often sit upright on low branches, reeds, fence wires or grass stems while watching for insects. After making a quick aerial catch, they usually return to the same perch to handle and swallow the prey.
Unlike the highly colonial carmine bee-eaters, little bee-eaters generally nest as individual pairs or in small, loose groups. They excavate tunnels in sandy banks, low earth cuttings or level ground, with both adults helping to raise the young.
Interesting facts
They remove the stings from bees and wasps. The insect is repeatedly struck or rubbed against a perch before being swallowed.
They return repeatedly to favourite hunting perches. A low branch or reed may provide the perfect lookout for spotting flying insects.
Their name does not describe their entire diet. Little bee-eaters also catch flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, dragonflies and many other airborne insects.