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Birds

Southern carmine bee-eater

Southern carmine bee-eater · Merops nubicoides

Bright red Southern carmine bee-eater with a turquoise-blue accent – hardly any other bird brings more colour to Africa’s riverbanks.

Fact file

Size: 28–35 cm long, the body is slim, the wings narrow, with strikingly long tail feathers
Males and females: Sexes are barely distinguishable by colour, males usually have longer tail feathers
Sounds: Raspy, hoarse calls – often heard in flying groups
Diet: Catches mainly bees, wasps and other flying insects in the air
Offspring: Breeds in colonies, lays 2–5 eggs in sandy burrows between August and November

How to identify Southern carmine bee-eater

Southern carmine bee-eaters immediately stand out with their bright red plumage, which shimmers intensely in sunlight. A turquoise-blue band runs from the forehead over the upperparts to the wing tips, and the throat and belly also glow vividly. The strong, black bill is slightly curved and clearly prominent.

At around 28 to 35 centimetres in length and with strikingly long, narrow tail feathers, the Southern carmine bee-eater looks slim and elegant. In flight its pointed wingbeat and striking colour combination are unmistakable. Juveniles have duller, greener plumage with shorter tail feathers.