Birds Active during the day

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A shimmering emerald of the sky, the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is a master of aerial acrobatics and a brilliant visitor to the world's warmer regions. With its striking blue accents and elegant tail streamers, it turns every insect hunt into a display of grace.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 28–31 cm (11–12.2 in); Wingspan: 46–49 cm (18.1–19.3 in); Weight: 38–56 g (1.3–2.0 oz)

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Colors

Predominantly bright emerald green with a bronze-yellow throat, a black eye-mask, and distinctive blue patches on the cheeks and forehead.

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Key Features

Bright emerald green plumage with blue cheek patches
Long, slender black bill and black eye-mask
Distinctive elongated central tail feathers called streamers
Yellowish-rufous throat transitioning to green body

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-11 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season March-September

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Diet Primarily insectivorous, they specialize in catching dragonflies, honeybees, wasps, and hornets mid-air.

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Habitat Open landscapes such as desert edges, wetlands with reed beds, irrigated farmland, and acacia scrub.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Live?

The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is native to a wide belt spanning Northern Africa and the Middle East, reaching from eastern Turkey and Iraq through Kazakhstan and into the Indian subcontinent. Most populations are strongly migratory, traveling south to spend the winter months in tropical Africa, though a dedicated population remains year-round in the semi-arid Sahel region. While primarily an Afro-Asian species, they are occasionally spotted as rare visitors in parts of Southern Europe like Italy and Greece.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

12 Countries

11.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

IN India Egypt Turkey Kazakhstan Iran Iraq Saudi Arabia Sudan NG Nigeria SN Senegal Mali United Arab Emirates

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters are social and highly agile birds, often seen perched on telegraph wires, fence posts, or high bare branches. From these vantage points, they perform stunning aerial sorties to snatch insects from the air. Their flight is a graceful display of skill, characterized by alternating series of rapid wingbeats and long, effortless glides. They are gregarious by nature, frequently nesting in loose colonies and communicating with a distinct, liquid 'pruuk' or 'drruut' call that can be heard from a distance.

Like their relatives, they have developed a specialized way of handling stinging prey. After catching a bee or wasp, the bird returns to its perch and repeatedly strikes the insect's head against the surface to stun it, then rubs the abdomen against the perch to remove the stinger and venom. While they generally avoid direct human contact, they are often found near human-altered landscapes like irrigated farms and orchards where insects are plentiful.

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Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescent green of the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, position your camera to face prominent, solitary perches. These birds favor bare branches, fence lines, or even tall reeds near water bodies. They are creatures of habit and often return to the same lookout spot after a hunting flight. Setting your camera at a slight upward angle will help silhouette their elegant tail streamers against the sky or a soft-focus background, making for a much more professional-looking shot.

Because these birds are insect specialists, the best way to attract them to your yard is to cultivate a habitat that supports dragonflies and bees. Avoid pesticides and plant native flowering shrubs. Providing a water source, such as a large birdbath or a shallow pond, is also a great way to lure them in, as they often drop down for a quick drink or a splash-bath during the heat of the day. Unlike songbirds, they won't come to seed or suet feeders, so focus your camera placement on these natural activity hubs instead.

For the best AI triggers, set your camera to its most sensitive motion setting and use a high shutter speed if available, as their movements are lightning-fast. The 'golden hours'—shortly after sunrise and before sunset—provide the ideal lighting to catch the flash of blue on their cheeks. If you are using a trail camera, mount it about 5 to 7 feet off the ground on a sturdy post facing a known perching branch about 10 to 15 feet away to ensure the bird remains in focus during its stay.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.

European Bee-eater

Has a bright yellow throat and a chestnut-colored crown and back, whereas the Blue-cheeked is primarily green.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You will see them most active during the mid-morning and late afternoon when insect activity is at its peak and the sun provides enough warmth for their hunting flights.

Attract them by creating an insect-friendly environment. Plant native flowers to encourage bees and dragonflies, and provide high, bare perches like bamboo poles or wires where they can sit and scan for prey. A clean water source like a pond is also very effective.

Their diet consists almost entirely of flying insects. While they love honeybees and wasps, they are particularly fond of dragonflies, which make up a significant portion of their diet in many regions.

They are less common in dense urban centers but are frequently found in suburban gardens that border open fields, wetlands, or agricultural land. They require open space to hunt effectively.

The easiest way is color: Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters are almost entirely green with a small blue patch on the face. European Bee-eaters are much more multicolored, featuring a bright yellow throat, a dark chestnut back, and blue-green underparts.

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