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All digiscoping photography courtesy of James. P. Smith ©

Little Green Bee-eater is the smallest of Israel's three bee-eaters, and the only one that is resident. It has a broad distribution across Central Africa, through the southern Middle East and into Eastern/Southern Asia. The blue throated form, M. o. cyanophrys is the subspecies occurring in Israel and is arguably the most attractive.

Little Green Bee-eater is present along the Dead Sea depression south from Jericho and into the southern Arava Valley and the central Negev. In some years, such as 1996, an estimated thirty five pairs have been found within a five kilometre radius of Lotan. It can often be found around human habitation but is also present in Acacia wadis. The winter distribution of this species in the Lotan/Ketura area is currently being studied by Ayala Wise of the Arava Environmental Institute at Ketura.

Please enjoy the gallery. All images were taken on 11th December 2002

James Smith and the Birding Israel Team

Click on a thumbnail below to enlarge and begin the slide show

Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis
Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis
Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis Little Green Bee Eater, Merops orientalis