The Southern Carmine Bee-eater: A Vibrant Summer Visitor

With summer around the corner, we turn our attention to one of Southern Africa’s most striking avian visitors, the Southern Carmine Bee-eater. Known for its dazzling plumage and fascinating behaviors, this bird is a must-see for any bird lover’s list.

Common Names

• English: Carmine Bee-eater

• Afrikaans: Rooiborsbyvreter

• isiZulu: iNkotha-enkulu

• Xitsonga: Nkhonyana

• Mandinka (West Africa): “Cousin to the fire”

The Mandinka people of West Africa (southern Mali, eastern Guinea, and northern Ivory Coast) gave the bird this evocative name due to its habit of attending grass fires to hunt insects fleeing the flames.

Colourful Appearance

The Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) is a spectacle of color. Its plumage is predominantly a vivid carmine red, with a striking blue crown and undertail. The bird’s sleek body measures about 25 cm in length, with an additional 12 cm from its elegant tail streamers, making it the largest bee-eater species in Southern Africa. Its slender, curved bill is perfectly adapted for catching insects mid-flight, and its vibrant colors make it unmistakable in the wild.

Migration Patterns

This species is a long-distance migrant, following a complex seasonal journey:

• Breeding Season (August–November): The Southern Carmine Bee-eater breeds in large colonies along riverbanks in Zimbabwe and Zambia, digging burrows into sandy cliffs for nesting.

• Summer Months (December–February): It migrates south to regions like South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, where it can be spotted in open woodlands and savannas.

• Non-Breeding Season (March–August): The birds move north to Equatorial Africa, including parts of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and southern Tanzania.

Their migration often aligns with the availability of food, particularly locust swarms, which provide a reliable energy source for their arduous journeys.

Diet and Nutrition

Southern Carmine Bee-eaters are skilled aerial foragers, primarily feeding on:

• Invertebrates: Dragonflies, termites, locusts, and bees.

• Small Fish: Occasionally caught near water bodies.

• Chicks’ Diet: Exclusively insectivorous, with parents delivering soft-bodied insects to nestlings.

The birds are known for their unique hunting techniques. They often perch on branches or hitchhike on large animals like buffalo, antelope, or even birds like the Kori Bustard, using them as mobile lookout posts to spot prey. Once caught, prey is brought back to a perch and rubbed against it to kill it or remove stings (in the case of bees and wasps). The birds frequently regurgitate pellets of indigestible insect exoskeletons, a trait similar to owls.

Their opportunistic feeding strategy includes pursuing grass fires to catch insects fleeing the flames, earning them their Mandinka nickname. They may also follow locust swarms during migration, ensuring a steady food supply.

Social and Behavioral Traits

Southern Carmine Bee-eaters are highly social, often seen in flocks of dozens or even hundreds during migration or at breeding colonies. Their cooperative behavior extends to:

• Colonial Nesting: They dig extensive burrow systems in riverbanks, with multiple pairs nesting close together for protection.

• Interspecies Relationships: Beyond hitchhiking on large mammals and birds, they sometimes share feeding grounds with other bird species, like storks or herons, capitalizing on disturbed insects.

• Vocalizations: Their calls are a melodious, rolling “terk-terk” or “krrrr,” often heard during group interactions or courtship displays.

Conservation and Habitat

The Southern Carmine Bee-eater prefers open savannas, woodlands, and riverine habitats with sandy banks for nesting. While not currently endangered, their populations are affected by:

• Habitat Loss: Deforestation and riverbank degradation can reduce suitable nesting sites.

• Climate Change: Altered rainfall patterns may affect insect populations and migration timing.

• Human Disturbance: Agricultural expansion and tourism near breeding colonies can disrupt their reproductive success.

Conservation efforts, such as protecting key breeding sites in Zambia and Zimbabwe, are crucial to ensuring their populations remain stable.

Fun Facts

• Aerial Acrobats: Their agile flight allows them to catch insects with precision, often performing spectacular twists and dives.

• Cultural Significance: In some African cultures, their vibrant colors are associated with vitality and renewal, often featured in local folklore.

• Family Helpers: Non-breeding adults often assist in raising chicks, bringing food to nestlings in a display of cooperative breeding.

Where to Spot Them

In South Africa, look for Southern Carmine Bee-eaters in:

• Kruger National Park: Along river systems and open savannas.

• KwaZulu-Natal: In reserves like Mkhuze Game Reserve.

• Okavango Delta (Botswana): A hotspot during their summer migration.

Bring binoculars and patience, as their vibrant colors and acrobatic flights are a treat to observe.

The Southern Carmine Bee-eater is more than just a beautiful bird, it’s a symbol of nature’s interconnectedness, from its fire-chasing habits to its cooperative social structure. As summer approaches, keep an eye out for this dazzling visitor and add it to your birding list!