Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Merops persicus
Wetlands. Entirely green above; pale blue eyebrows, cheeks and belly; chin yellow; throat rufous.
Bee-eaters
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Rare vagrant. A single bird recorded at Cape Recife, Port Elizabeth, in Apr–May 2003. Identified by unique combination of striking pink underparts and slate-grey upper parts. Bold white moustache stripe borders black facial mask. The short tail-streamers are dull crimson. Iris red or reddish brown and legs yellowish brown. Juvenile lacks the tail-streamers and is generally duller, showing dusky pink underparts, a grey mask and a buffy moustache. Could only be confused with [Southern Carmine Bee-eater]. Calls most similar to [European Bee-eater]. Breeding colonies normally located on sandbanks or islands in wide rivers in central and West Africa. Breeds Apr–Jun, then migrates to rainforest, savanna and mangrove habitats. Hawks for insects (mainly flying ants, bees and wasps) from a perch, or forages in flight high above the rain forest canopy or low over open water expanses.
Quick Facts
Size
27-33 cm - M
Names
A: Blouwangbyvreter
Z: indlanyosi
Ss: Thlapolome Ya Leramatalalehodimmo
G: Blauwangenspint
Bird Family
Colourful, aerial-feeding birds with long decurved bills, many with elongated tail-feathers (absent in immatures). Most occur in flocks, catching flying insects while twisting and turning in graceful aerial manoeuvres or by hawking them from a perch in short aerial sallies, usually returning to the same perch to eat their prey. Immatures are dull versions of the adults. Sexes are alike.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Breeds Apr–Jun, then migrates to rain'forest', 'savanna' and mangrove habitats. Hawks for insects (mainly flying ants, bees and wasps) from a perch, or forages in flight high above the rain 'forest' canopy or low over open water expanses.
