Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus) [XC531405]
by id from Livingstone Beach Resort, Bagamoyo, Pwani Region, Tanzania (call, flight call)
Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus) [XC857214]
by Patrik \u00c5berg from Larabanga, West Gonja, Northern Region, Ghana (call)
Nest
In a tunnel in a cliff, usually near river banks. In large colonies.
Subspecies
Subspecies commonly raised to the rank of separate species, but identical in voice, ecology, and breeding and migratory habits, and morphological and plumage differences considered relatively insignificant.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
nubicus Gmelin, 1788 - Senegal east to Eritrea, and south to northern Kenya; in austral winter farther southern in northern tropics and in eastern Tanzania.
nubicoides Des Murs and Pucheran, 1846 - Acacia savanna of central and southern Africa.