The African Green Bee-eater (Merops viridissimus) is one of the most beautiful and charismatic birds found in Aswan. With its dazzling emerald-green plumage, graceful flight, and acrobatic hunting skills, it is a favorite among birdwatchers and photographers visiting southern Egypt. Here are ten fascinating facts about this remarkable species.
1. It’s One of Egypt’s Most Distinctive African Birds
Unlike many birds found throughout Egypt, the African Green Bee-eater has strong Afrotropical roots. Aswan represents the northern edge of its range, making it a highly sought-after species for visiting birders.
2. Its Plumage Glows Bright Green
The bird’s vivid emerald-green coloration helps it blend surprisingly well into riverside vegetation. In good light, its feathers can appear almost iridescent, making it one of the most photogenic birds in the Nile Valley.
3. It Is a Master Aerial Hunter
African Green Bee-eaters catch most of their prey in flight. They typically perch on reeds, shrubs, or low branches before launching into the air to snatch insects with remarkable precision.
4. Bees Are Only Part of the Menu
Despite its name, this species feeds on a wide variety of flying insects, including dragonflies, flies, beetles, wasps, butterflies, and moths. Bees and other stinging insects are only part of its diet.
5. It Removes Stingers Before Eating
When catching bees or wasps, the bird often returns to a perch and repeatedly strikes the insect against a branch. This behavior helps remove the stinger and venom sac before swallowing its meal.
6. It Nests Underground
Rather than building a nest in trees, African Green Bee-eaters excavate tunnels in sandy banks or loose soil. These tunnels can extend more than a meter in length and end in a nesting chamber where the eggs are laid.
7. It Often Lives Near Water
In Aswan, the species is commonly associated with the Nile, river islands, and wetland habitats where flying insects are abundant. It can often be seen perched near reedbeds and calm waterways.
8. It Is Highly Social
African Green Bee-eaters are frequently encountered in pairs or small groups. During the breeding season, family members may help feed chicks and defend nesting territories.
9. It Has a Distinctive Call
Its soft, rolling calls are often heard before the bird is seen. Experienced birders quickly learn to recognize these vocalizations while exploring Aswan’s Nile islands and riverside habitats.
10. Aswan Is One of the Best Places in Egypt to See It
The Nile Islands, Saluga and Ghazal Protected Area, and other riverside habitats around Aswan provide some of the most reliable locations in Egypt for observing and photographing African Green Bee-eaters throughout the year.