Somali bee-eater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Somali bee-eater |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Family: | Meropidae |
| Genus: | Merops |
| Species: |
M. revoilii
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| Binomial name | |
| Merops revoilii Oustalet, 1882
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The Somali bee-eater (Merops revoilii) is a beautiful bird from the Meropidae family. It lives in dry, desert-like areas in parts of Africa and the Middle East. You can find it in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Tanzania. This small bird loves open spaces and is often seen catching insects in the air.
Experts say it's a "least concern" bird, meaning its population is stable. In fact, as some forests are cleared, new open areas become perfect homes for these bee-eaters, so their numbers might even be growing!
What Does It Look Like?
The Somali bee-eater is quite small, growing to about 16 to 18 centimeters long. It's the smallest bird in its group! Both male and female birds look very similar. They are slender with spiky feathers on their heads.
Their heads have a shiny green top and blue eyebrows. The upper parts of their bodies are different shades of green. Their lower back and rump are a bright blue, and their tail is bluish-green. Their cheeks, chin, and throat are white. The chest and belly are a warm cinnamon-buff color. They have a black beak, reddish-brown eyes, and dark grey legs. Unlike some other bee-eaters, this species does not have dark edges on its wings.
Where Do They Live?
The Somali bee-eater lives in a region of Africa called the Horn of Africa. This area includes southern Ethiopia, Somalia, and northern and eastern Kenya.
They prefer open, dry places. Their favorite homes are areas with scattered Acacia and Commiphora bushes. They also like dry grasslands with a few bushes and wide-open steppe lands.
What Do They Eat and How Do They Live?
Somali bee-eaters are insect eaters! They mostly catch small flying insects. They hunt by sitting on a low branch or perch. When an insect flies by, they quickly dart out to catch it in the air.
These birds are usually seen alone or in pairs. They build their nests in interesting places. You can find their nests in the sides of road cuttings or in the walls of deep wells. In Kenya, they usually lay their eggs and raise their young between March and June.
 | Misty Copeland |
 | Raven Wilkinson |
 | Debra Austin |
 | Aesha Ash |
