Members of this species, like other bee-eaters, are rich and brightly coloured slender birds.

[6] They reach a length of 15–17 cm, which makes them the smallest African bee-eater.

Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, who are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch.

Before eating their meal, a bee-eater removes the stinger by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.

Unlike most bee-eaters, these are solitary nesters, making a tunnel in sandy banks, or sometimes in the entrance to an Aardvark den.