Little Bee-eater

The Little Bee-eater is the smallest member of the bee-eater family in Africa. It shares the same general plan as the larger bee-eaters — a long, slender body, a curved downturned bill and streamlined wings — scaled down to the size of a small songbird.

Its combination of green upperparts, a bright yellow throat with a black gorget, a black eye stripe and warm brown underparts makes it unmistakable once seen. It sits low over open country and riverine edges, watching the sky for flying insects.

The species appears on the Kilimanjaro National Park checklist. Its inclusion adds to the diversity of bee-eaters recorded in the park, although the checklist alone does not establish which individual routes or camps offer reliable sightings.

The Little Bee-eater uses open and lightly wooded environments — savanna, open woodland, grassland and riverine edges, generally low down, and often near water and suitable earthen banks.

Important habitat features include:

• Open country with scattered trees and shrubs.
• Riverbanks and stream edges with suitable soil banks.
• Low acacia woodland and open scrub.
• Insect-rich feeding areas around water.
• Exposed soil faces suitable for nesting tunnels.

The species generally avoids dense, closed forest. It needs open flying space for hunting and suitable soil faces for digging nesting tunnels.

The Little Bee-eater is an insectivore. It catches flying insects in the air, with bees and wasps among its common prey.

Its food includes:

• Bees.
• Wasps.
• Beetles.
• Flies.
• Dragonflies.
• Other flying insects of suitable size.

The bird usually watches from a low perch, launches to catch an insect in the air, then returns to the perch to handle the prey — striking bees and wasps against the perch to disarm them before swallowing them.

The Little Bee-eater is usually solitary, paired or in small family groups. It does not have the large cooperative colonial breeding system of the White-fronted Bee-eater — nothing should be claimed for it that belongs to that species.

Birds may gather in loose groups where food and nesting banks are suitable, foraging from low perches and returning repeatedly to favoured spots.

The Little Bee-eater gives soft, high-pitched contact calls. These short notes help keep members of a pair or small family group in contact when foraging in open country.

Calls are useful when watching for the bird — you may hear a high-pitched series before you see a small green shape on a low branch.

The Little Bee-eater excavates a tunnel in a suitable earthen bank — a riverbank cut, a gully face or another exposed soil face. The tunnel ends in a chamber where eggs are laid and the young are raised.

Compared with the White-fronted Bee-eater, nesting sites are not typically part of large cooperative colonies; pairs or small parties select their own suitable bank. Suitable riverbanks and other open soil faces provide opportunities — visitors should never approach, block or disturb active nesting tunnels.

Do not add a fixed Kilimanjaro breeding season unless supported by local breeding records.

The Little Bee-eater is classified as Least Concern in the cited assessments. BirdLife's 2024 assessment, however, reports a decreasing global population trend, so local habitat protection remains important.

This classification means the species is not currently assessed as globally threatened — it does not mean that its habitats are free from pressure.

Mount Kilimanjaro is home to a varied bird community, and the Little Bee-eater is included in the park's bird checklist. For visitors interested in identification, this small species offers an opportunity to learn about aerial insect hunting and open-country ecology.

What should observers look for?

• Green upperparts and a bright yellow throat with a black gorget.
• A low, exposed perch above open ground.
• Fast sallies after flying insects, returning to the same perch.
• Soft, high-pitched contact calls from pairs or small groups.

The Little Bee-eater is a rewarding subject because of its bright throat and black gorget, and crisp plumage details in good light.

Photography suggestions:

• Photograph the bird from a respectful distance.
• Aim for a clear view of the yellow throat and black gorget.
• Use a fast shutter speed for flight shots.
• Capture perched birds against uncluttered backgrounds.
• Avoid disturbing nesting banks for photographs.

Mount Kilimanjaro is famous for its dramatic landscapes, but its natural heritage also includes a rich variety of bird species and habitats.

At African Majestic Adventure, visitors can explore the mountain while learning about its ecosystems, forest environments and birdlife.

Whether you are interested in bird identification, nature photography or a wider Kilimanjaro adventure, our team can help you plan a suitable experience.