Least Concern Birds

Little Bee Eater

Merops pusillus

Little Bee Eater feeds mainly on bees and flying insects in African savannas.

Scientific name	Merops pusillus
Swahili name	Mchawi mdogo
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Coraciiformes
Family	Meropidae
Size	Male: approximately 15-17 grams; Female: approximately 15-17 grams (similar weight)

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How to identify

Small-sized bird, total length about 15 cm; crown and back green; chest yellow; black eye mask stripe; slender and slightly curved bill.

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, shrubland, open forests, and areas near river valleys.

Diet

Primarily insectivorous, especially feeding on bees, wasps, and other flying insects.

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day.

Where it lives

Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya and the Masai Mara region.

How to spot it

Observe at dawn or dusk in open areas or at the edges of shrubland, paying attention to its flying insect hunting behavior.

Photography tips

Use a telephoto lens to capture hunting moments; shoot during well-lit times; simple backgrounds help highlight plumage colors.

Threats

Habitat destruction and pesticide use leading to prey decline.

Similar species

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster): larger size, more vivid colors, longer tail feathers in flight; Little Bee-eater is smaller with softer coloration.

📖 how to spot the little bee eater on safari