Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater vs European Bee-eater

Merops oreobates compared with Merops apiaster

Key Differences

• Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater is Least Concern while European Bee-eater is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater	European Bee-eater
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Coraciiformes (Coraciiformes)	Coraciiformes (Coraciiformes)
Family same	Meropidae	Meropidae
Genus same	Merops	Merops
Species	Merops oreobates	Merops apiaster

Evolutionary Relationship

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater and European Bee-eater share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Merops.

Conservation Status

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

LC — Least Concern

European Bee-eater

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater	European Bee-eater
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway.

European Bee-eater

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

The cinnamon-chested bee-eater (Merops oreobates) is a colorful, aerial insectivore in the family Meropidae, endemic to the highlands of East Africa. It is found in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DRC, typically at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters in montane forest edge, woodland clearings, and cultivated areas with tall trees. Like all bee-eaters, it is a masterful aerial hunter, catching bees, wasps, and other flying insects in fast pursuit flights from open perches. The plumage is brilliant—green upperparts, a bright blue rump and undertail, a distinctive cinnamon-rufous chest, and a black gorget separating the throat from the breast. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with stable populations across the East African highlands. It often nests colonially, digging burrows into earthen banks or flat ground. The cinnamon-chested bee-eater is absent from Europe; Norwegian database records are data entry errors. This bee-eater is a popular species with birdwatchers visiting the East African highlands, often observed conspicuously from perches at forest edges. Conservation of highland forest and woodland habitats, and the retention of earthen banks for nesting, are beneficial for this species.

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is classified as Not Evaluated (NE) on the IUCN Red List. Not yet evaluated against IUCN Red List criteria. Conservation status remains to be determined.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway