Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

Other Names (World)
Blue-throated Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Family
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)

Size
21 - 30 cm
Male Tail: 9 cm
Female Tail: 9 cm

First Described (Guide)
Linnaeus, 1758

Habitat
Open woodlands, kerangas, marshes, mangroves, paddyfields, pastures, plantations, rural gardens. From sea-level - 300 m.

Range (Guide)

Brunei Darussalam (B), Cambodia (B), China (mainland) (B), Indonesia (B), Laos (B), Malaysia (B), Philippines (B), Singapore (B), Thailand (B), Vietnam (B).

Vagrant to Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China).

Indonesia, Borneo and Philippines to southern China.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Sociable, colonial.

Food
Flying insects, especially bees, wasps and dragonflies. Hawks prey from prominant perches.

Voice
A series of three or more loud, clear 'phil-ip phil-ip phil-ip', 'pit pit pit' or 'kerik-kerik-kerik' nots uttered in flight.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (38)...)

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) [XC359882]
by Brendan Sloan from Lower Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia (call)

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) [XC440451]
by Ding Li Yong from Pontian, Johor, Malaysia (call)

Nest
In an excavated burrow in sandy soils. In colonies.

Eggs (Guide)
Clutch Size: 1 - 6
Color: pure white
Dimensions: 23 x 21 mm (round)

Subspecies
Relationships uncertain. Javan population has sometimes been considered subspecifically distinct on plumage, with subspecies sumatranus consequently resurrected to include all other populations herein placed in nominate. However, detected differences appear to be related merely to age or wear.

The following 2 subspecies are recognised:

viridis Linnaeus, 1758 - South-eastern China (including Hainan), southern Thailand and Indochina (except much of Laos) south to Sumatra, Java, Borneo and northern Natuna Is.
americanus M�ller, PLS, 1776 - Philippines. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Rufous-crowned Bee-eater (Merops americanus).

Similar Species
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) which has a grren crown and mantle, and a rufous throat.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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