European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
- FamilyMeropidae (Bee-eaters)
- GenusMerops (Typical Bee-eaters)
- SpeciesMerops apiaster (European Bee-eater)
The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a bird species in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. It has the largest range of any bee-eater species. It breeds in southern and central Europe, northern and southern Africa, and western Asia. Except for the resident southern African population, the species is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa. This species occurs as a spring overshoot north of its usual range, with occasional breeding in northern Europe. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a European Bee-eater sighting in Akagera National Park, based on 107 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Akagera National Park
Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Merops persicus
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Merops oreobates
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Merops nubicoides
Blue-breasted Bee-eater
Merops variegatus
Whitethroated Bee-eater
Merops albicollis
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Woodland Kingfisher
Halcyon senegalensis
Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
Striped Kingfisher
Halcyon chelicuti
Broad-billed Roller
Eurystomus glaucurus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a European Bee-eater in Akagera National Park?
About 22% of wildlife watchers report a European Bee-eater sighting in Akagera National Park, based on 107 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see European Bee-eater in Akagera National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for European Bee-eater in Akagera National Park in our monthly data.