The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is a green bee-eater with bright blue cheeks. In Middle Eastern breeding areas it uses semidesert near water and digs a nesting tunnel in sandy banks.
Its plumage is bright green, with blue cheeks, a black eye-stripe, yellow throat, brown upper breast and rusty brown underwings. Central tail feathers are elongated. Juveniles and winter adults are duller overall, the blue on the face becomes whitish, and juveniles lack the elongated central tail feathers.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters have been described as dragonfly specialists. A review of seven studies across 12 locations found wide variation in prey. Across the studies, Hymenoptera, including wasps and bees, averaged 41.5% of prey, while dragonflies averaged 28.4%.The review covered records from breeding and wintering areas. Earlier descriptions as dragonfly specialists relied heavily on studies near lakes and rivers in West Africa.
Dragonflies made up 55.7–83.6% of prey in studies near large lakes and rivers; the Lake Chad study reported 83%. In drier or coastal areas, bees or butterflies were sometimes the main prey. The review showed that diet varies among populations and habitats.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater diets vary by region: prey can include dragonflies as well as wasps, bees, and butterflies. Local habitat and prey availability are linked to the main food recorded for different populations.