Photo: Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rosy Bee-eater
Merops malimbicus
Rosy Bee-eater (Merops malimbicus) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Africa.
The Rosy Bee-eater (Merops malimbicus) is a member of the Meropidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 50.4 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 Merops
- Species malimbicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Meropidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rosy Bee-eater is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Rosy Bee-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rosy Bee-eater (Merops malimbicus) belongs to the Meropidae family of the order Coraciiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Nigeria; Gabon to c DR Congo.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.4 g, with a wing length of about 13.5 cm and a tail of around 11.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rosy Bee-eater?
The Rosy Bee-eater is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.4 g.
Where does the Rosy Bee-eater live?
The Rosy Bee-eater is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Nigeria; Gabon to c DR Congo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rosy Bee-eater belong to?
The Rosy Bee-eater (Merops malimbicus) belongs to the Meropidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Rosy Bee-eater eat?
The Rosy Bee-eater is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rosy Bee-eater migrate?
The Rosy Bee-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rosy 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 Rosy Bee-eater make?
1 real field recording of the Rosy Bee-eater — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rosy Bee-eater's range?
The Rosy Bee-eater has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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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