Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-bearded Bee-eater
Nyctyornis amictus
Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) — Kingfishers & Rollers of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) is a member of the Meropidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 71.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Meropidae Bee-eaters
- Genus Nyctyornis
- Species amictus
Where it lives
Malay Pen., Sumatra, Bangka (east of southern Sumatra) and Borneo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 71.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Meropidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-bearded Bee-eater is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-bearded Bee-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) is a member of the Meropidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Malay Pen., Sumatra, Bangka (e of s Sumatra) and Borneo.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 71.9 g, with a wing length of about 11.9 cm and a tail of around 12 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-bearded Bee-eater?
The Red-bearded Bee-eater is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 71.9 g.
Where does the Red-bearded Bee-eater live?
The Red-bearded Bee-eater is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Malay Pen., Sumatra, Bangka (e of s Sumatra) and Borneo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Red-bearded Bee-eater belong to?
The Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) belongs to the Meropidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Red-bearded Bee-eater eat?
The Red-bearded Bee-eater is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-bearded Bee-eater migrate?
The Red-bearded Bee-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-bearded Bee-eater endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Red-bearded Bee-eater make?
1 real field recording of the Red-bearded Bee-eater — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-bearded Bee-eater's range?
The Red-bearded Bee-eater has a mapped global range of about 1.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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