Most bee-eater species are found in Africa and Asia, but some occur in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterized by richly colored plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers. All have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. While they eat any type of flying insect, honey bees predominate in their diet. The birds only catch prey that are on the wing and ignore flying insects once they land. Before eating its meal, a bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting and rubbing the insect on a hard surface. During this process, pressure is applied to the insect thereby extracting most of the venom. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Merops

Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Merops variegatus   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Tanzaia


Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked  Merops persicus  Found: Africa, Asia
Photographed by Frank Vassen - Namibia


Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed  Merops leschenaulti  Found: Asia
Photographed by JJ Harrison - Thailand


Bee-eater, Eurasian aka European Bee-Eater   Merops apiaster   Found: Europe, Africa, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes    2) William Kreijkes


Bee-eater, Green  Merops orientalis   Found: Africa, Asia 
Photographed by J M Garg


Bee-eater, Little Merops pusillus   Found: Africa (central)
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes   2) Steve Garvie at Buffalo Springs NP, Kenya.3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania 


Bee-eater, Olive  Merops superciliosus  Found: Madagascar
Photographed by Frank Vassen - Madagascar


Bee-eater, Red-throated  Merops bulocki  Found: Africa 
Photographed by: Tom Tarrant - Uganda


Bee-eater, Northen Carmine  Merops nubicus  Found: Africa
Photographed by Steve Garvie near Watamu, coastal Kenya


Bee-eater, Rainbow  Merops ornatus  Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1) Arthur Chapman near Ormiston Gorge, West Macdonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia
    2, 3, 4) David Cook - Murrumbidgee River Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory and also at Cattana Wetlands, Cairns


Bee-eater, Southern Carmine   Merops nubicoides Found: Africa
Photographed / Drawn by:  1) Claude Gibney Finch-Davies  2) Arno Meintjes 


Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Merops hirundineus   Found: Africa (central)
Drawn / Photographed by: 1) Claude Gibney Finch-Davies  2) Alastair Rae


Bee-eater, White-fronted Merops bullockoides   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels near Kruger National Park, South Africa   2) Luc Viatour



Bee-eater, White-throated Merops albicollis   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Carol Foil - Kenya 2) Craft*ology - Bronx Zoo, New York 3) Wolfehr