Merops persicus
The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater visits South Africa during our summer months after migrating from their breeding grounds stretching from North Africa to central Asia, arriving from October and departing again by April, some stay as late as May. Locally, most Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters head for the north-coast of Kwazulu-Natal and locations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, but individuals occasionally pop-up in other parts of the country as well.
While here these insectivorous birds (they have a preference for dragonflies caught in flight) inhabit moist savannas, wooded grasslands and swamps. They’re quite gregarious and usually encountered in small flocks of around 20 with individuals roosting tightly together. Adults weigh around 50g and measure approximately 30cm in length.
The IUCN considers the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater to be of least concern.
DeWetsWild 
Hulle is pragtig!
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O defnitief, Aletta!
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I would love to see a slow motion video of one catching a dragonfly in flight!!
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That would be wonderful, I agree, John! We saw them hawk insects “in live action” and it was astounding!
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These birds are so beautiful! I’m gonna have to send them an invitation to my backyard!
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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that was all it took, Kathy!?
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Exquisite – both the birds and the images! They literally brightened my day!
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Thank you for brightening my day with your kind comment, Carol!
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🙂
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I will join the others in remarking what a handsome bird this is – I have yet to make its acquaintance 🙂
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There’s actually a flock of them frequenting Colchester outside Addo’s Matyholweni Gate at the moment, Anne – if you had no other plans for the weekend you might want to go looking for them!
https://groups.google.com/g/sa-rarebirdnews/c/_4Dr5juSvfI
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I still don’t have spectacles ): Nonetheless, I will keep an eye out for them in future, thank you (:
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I bet that, like us, they’ll find Addo so appealing that they will definitely return as soon as they can!
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Wow, what a delightful bird, so colorful and handsome. I wish we had some.
janet
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They are beautiful, Janet, and especially so when seen in a group!
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Great shots! I don’t think we have bee eaters birds in the USA. Nice looking birds and colorful. Great post, D. 🙂
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Thanks, H.J. That is very interesting that they’re not found in the USA – they’re such a cosmopolitan family of birds, and quite a few species travel vast distances.
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Good photos. These bee eaters have such long slender beaks. Perhaps best for catching insects like dragonflies midflight
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They certainly are very skillful at aerial acrobatics, Anne, and put those beaks to masterful use!
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An intriguing name for a handsome bird! I like your excellent photos showing how colorful and beautiful they are.
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That is most kind of you, thank you Hien!
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