Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Merops nubicoides
Riverine bush. Carmine-red body and wings; curved black bill
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common summer resident and visitor. Adult unmistakable. Largest bee-eater in the region, with brilliant carmine and blue plumage. Differs from [Northern Carmine Bee-eater] by having only a blue crown and pink not blue throat. Immature has brown upper parts and pale cinnamon underparts with traces of pink. Individuals call a deep ‘terk, terk’. Flocks occur near large rivers, marshes, in woodland and mixed bushveld, where they hawk from trees and from the ground.
Quick Facts
Size
33-38 cm - M
Names
A: Rooiborsbyvreter
Z: iNkothaenkulu
Ss: Thlapolome Ya Sefubafubedu
G: Scharlachspint
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
Flocks occur near large rivers, marshes, in woodland and mixed bushveld, where they hawk from trees and from the ground.
