About the Blue-moustached Bee-eater
The blue-moustached bee-eater is a species of bird in the family Meropidae, a group of brightly colored Palearctic and Afrotropical birds noted for feeding primarily on venomous Hymenoptera such as bees and wasps. The blue-moustached bee-eater is one of 31 species within this family. It is a small, dark bee-eater measuring about 19 cm in length. Both sexes are generally similar in appearance, with predominantly purplish-blue plumage, a rich chestnut mantle, back, and wings.
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ID tip
The blue-moustached bee-eater measures about 19 cm in length with tail streamers up to 3 cm more. Adults are predominantly purplish-blue, with a rich chestnut mantle, back, and wings. A small scarlet throat patch, bordered by black, is sometimes difficult to distinguish in light. Especially in flight, the entire wing appears rufous from direct or transmitted sunlight. The species has a black bill, red eyes, and grey legs and feet. Voice: Not known differences from M. muelleri. The vocalizations of blue-moustached bee-eaters are generally infrequent and quiet, producing a high-pitched tinkling or squeaky "tsee-sup". Occasional contact calls between perched birds (distant or side-by-side) are a quiet "sip" or almost disyllabic "s(l)ip".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Black-headed Bee-eaterMerops breweriThe adult black-headed bee-eater is between 25 and 28 cm (10 and 11 in) in length, excluding the 8 cm (3 in) tail streamers.
Blue-headed Bee-eaterMerops muelleriThe sexes are similar and the length of the adult is about 19 cm (7.5 in).
Somali Bee-eaterMerops revoiliiThe Somali bee-eater grows to a length of 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) and is the smallest member of the genus.
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