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

There are two subspecies: M. g. gularis, which is found from Sierra Leone to southeast Nigeria.

It has the forehead blue, and a distinct bright cobalt-blue superciliary stripe.

This sub-species has no superciliary stripe; forehead black, sometimes with a few blue feathers; the light azure-blue streaks on breast and even the belly are sometimes scarlet-tipped.

[2] The black bee-eater has a very wide range and although the population size has not been quantified but it is said to be widespread and common with a large total population, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".