The black-headed bee-eater (Merops breweri) is a species of bird in the family Meropidae.

The sexes are similar and it is a distinctive bird with a black head, green back, wings and tail, and buff breast and belly, with a rufous band across the lower breast.

The black-headed bee-eater is a bold bird and easy to approach, when the red eye can be seen.

It is nearly invisible as it sits on a perch in the mid-storey of the forest, but is easily observed as it darts out to snap up some passing insect in flight.

The population is thought to be declining because of such factors as the snaring of birds and the blocking up of nesting holes.