Bird · Resident
Red-throated Bee-eater
How to identify the red-throated bee-eater
Green above, buff below, with a bright red throat, a black mask and a blue vent. The tail is square, without streamers.
Where to see the red-throated bee-eater in Murchison Falls National Park
At nesting cliffs along the Nile on the boat cruise towards the bottom of the Falls, and on riverside trees.
Habitat
Riverbanks with vertical sandy cliffs for nesting, and nearby bush and woodland.
What the red-throated bee-eater eats
Bees, wasps and other flying insects, taken in short flights from a perch.
Behaviour
Highly social. Pairs dig nest tunnels close together in the bank, and helpers often assist the parents in feeding the young.
Best time to see the red-throated bee-eater
All year; colonies are busiest in the dry season. Resident, here all year.
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Further reading: en.wikipedia.org.
Questions about the red-throated bee-eater
Where do red-throated bee-eaters nest?
In tunnels dug into steep sandy riverbanks. Along the Nile in Murchison Falls there are colonies that can be watched from a boat.
More birds
Pied Kingfisher
The pied kingfisher is a black-and-white kingfisher that hovers over the water before diving for fish. It is one of the commonest birds on the Nile i…
Malachite Kingfisher
The malachite kingfisher is a tiny, jewel-bright kingfisher with a metallic blue back, orange underparts and a red bill. It sits low on reeds and pap…
African Skimmer
The African skimmer is a tern-like bird whose lower bill is longer than the upper. It feeds by flying low with the lower bill slicing through the wat…