Little Bee-eater

Afrikaans name: Kleinbyvreter

The beautiful Little Bee-eater

Photo © Steven Herbert

Merops pusillus

The Little Bee-eater is a small but beautiful bee-eater. It is widely distributed across eastern and northern South Africa as well as sub-Saharan Africa.

This species only weighs up to 18 grams and is about 15 cm in length.

Although the Little Bee-eater eats a variety of insects it predominantly eats bees, wasps and hornets.

Most bee-eaters nest in colonies but the Little Bee-eater nests by itself. They make a tunnel in sand banks where roughly 5 eggs are laid. Both male and female Little Bee-eater tend to the eggs and chicks.

Sexes have the same colour plumage. Juveniles are more buffy coloured with no black collar.

This species is found in various habitats including savanna, forest edges, woodland and wetlands.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	410	Melittophagus pusillus meridionalis
2nd	410	Mellittophagus pusillus
3rd	410	Melittophagus pusillus
4th	410	Melittophagus pusillus
5th	444	Merops pusillus
6th	444	Merops pusillus
7th	101	Merops pusillus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	410	Little Bee-eater
2nd	410	Little Bee-eater
3rd	410	Little Bee-eater
4th	410	Little Bee-eater
5th	444	Little Bee-eater
6th	444	Little Bee-eater
7th	101	Little Bee-eater

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	410	Klein-byvreter
2nd	410	Klein Byvreter
3rd	410	Klein Byvreter
4th	410	Klein Byvreter
5th	444	Kleinbyvreter
6th	444	Kleinbyvreter
7th	101	Kleinbyvreter

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 126

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 52

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 172

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 167

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 86

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 262

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 382

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 254

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 386

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 293

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 217

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 278

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 54

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 246

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 67

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 246

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 180

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 126

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 48

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 17

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 44

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 76

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 148

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 164

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 132

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 95

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 100

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 100

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 175

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds