Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus) - HBW 6, p. 340
French: Guêpier écarlate
Spanish: Abejaruco Carmesí
Other common names: Northern Carmine/Nubian Bee-eater (nubicus); Southern Carmine/Ruby Bee-eater (nubicoides)
Taxonomy: Merops nubicus J. F. Gmelin, 1788, Nubia.
Races commonly raised to the rank of separate species, but identical in voice, ecology, and breeding and migratory habits, and morphological and plumage differences considered relatively insignificant. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- nubicus J. F. Gmelin, 1788 - Senegal E to Eritrea, and S to N Kenya; in austral winter farther S in N tropics and in E Tanzania.
- nubicoides Des Murs & Pucheran, 1846 - S Angola, extreme NE Namibia (Caprivi Strip) and S Zambia, E to S Malawi and C Mozambique; spends austral winter N to Burundi and S to N Natal.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
VideosSee all 25 videos
A bird on a branch, looking around for prey and flying after one Locality Arba Minch, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Josep del Hoyo 16 December 2005 7 years ago 40 sec 4.5
front view perched on branch Locality Awash National Park, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Martin Kennewell 26 October 2010 25 weeks ago 32 sec 4.4
Three birds resting and one of them flying away Locality Bilen Lodge, Awash National Park, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Ron Hoff 14 December 2007 5 years ago 34 sec 4.3
part of flock of around 50 using an isolated dead tree on the plains and fighting against the wind, calling lots Locality Boloyta, Afar Region, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Martin Kennewell 25 October 2010 26 weeks ago 49 sec 4.2
A bird on a wire and flying away Locality Lake Ziway, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Josep del Hoyo 30 November 2005 7 years ago 42 sec 4.2
Carmine Bee-eater using the back of a Kori Bustard as a hunting perch - apparently this behaviour is quite unique to this area Locality Boloyta, Afar Region, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Martin Kennewell 25 October 2010 26 weeks ago 29 sec 4.2
PhotosSee all 46 photos
perching after the hunt
Locality Wassu, Central River Division, The Gambia
Mattias Hofstede 7 November 2012 1 year ago 4.5
Locality Mombasa, Kenya (ssp nubicus)
Kevin B Agar 13 February 2011 2 years ago 4.4
A bird perched on a branch
Locality Lake Langano, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Piotr Jonczyk 22 November 2009 3 years ago 4.3
A bird on a goat
hythumm 25 May 2013 39 weeks ago 4.2
near a water source
Locality Bilen Lodge, Awash National Park, Ethiopia (ssp nubicus)
Marco Valentini 30 December 2012 1 year ago 4.2
Bird on a branch , Okavango river , Xaro Lodge.
Locality Okavango Delta, North-West District, Botswana
Cindywutsch 20 October 2010 1 year ago 4.1