Image via Macaulay Library
Little Bee-eater
- Scientific name
- Merops pusillus
- Family
- Meropidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The Little Bee-eater, Merops pusillus, is a species of near-passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae, native to sub-Saharan Africa. Evoluntionary biology indicates these birds have been shaped by their reliance on open habitats where they utilize specialized hunting perches to catch insects on the wing, a behavioral necessity that dictated their physical evolution, including their characteristic pointed wings for agile flight and notched tails for stabilization.
The taxonomy of the species was first formally described by the German naturalist Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller in 1776. While not a designed artifact in the industrial sense, the bird's aesthetic and anatomical profile has long been a subject of study in ornithological illustration. Artists documenting the species have historically focused on the vivid contrast of its yellow throat and black gorget, capturing the bird’s unique silhouette to distinguish it from other smaller African bee-eater species.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Little Bee-eater
Little Bee-eater is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Little Bee-eater on collecto.rs?
Little Bee-eater doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Little Bee-eater?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Little Bee-eater catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Little Bee-eater is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
