Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops lafresnayii

The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is a striking bird with a predominantly green plumage, a blue crown, and distinctive blue cheek patches. This medium-sized bee-eater is known for its graceful aerial acrobatics as it catches insects on the wing. Found in open woodland, savannas, and grasslands, it is a migratory species, breeding in Africa and wintering in tropical parts of Africa and Asia. It nests in colonies, digging burrows in sandy banks. The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is a highly sociable bird, often seen in large flocks. Its population is currently considered stable, and it is not of immediate conservation concern.

Habitat: Open woodland, savannas, and grasslands