Bird Guide

Arabian Green Bee-eater vs Blue-throated Bee-eater

Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)

Arabian Green Bee-eater

Merops cyanophrys

Tiny15 gShrubland

It is 16–18 centimetres (6.3–7.1 in) long excluding the elongated central tail feathers, which are an additional 2 cm (0.8 in) long. The head and back plumage is dull green except for a slender black eyestripe with a broad blue forehead and line above the black eyestripe, a conspicuous blue throat, and a broad black crescent at the top of the breast below the throat. The breast and underparts are blue-green. The most distinctive trait of this species is its bright blue throat and face, more intense than on either M. orientalis or M. viridissimus, and the central tail feathers are shorter.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA · CC BY 2.0
Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

Blue-throated Bee-eater

Merops viridis

Small35 gWoodland

Adult blue-throated bee-eaters are around 21 cm long, excluding the elongated central tail feathers, which are an additional 9 cm, and a weight of around 34–41 grams. Adults have spectacular plumage with a red-brown crown and nape, dark green wings, blue tail, light green breast and belly, and the signature blue throat. Juveniles are mostly green all over their body, developing their full plumage later; they have a dark green head and wings and light green breast, and also lack the elongated central tail feathers of adults. Both adults and juveniles have black eye stripes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Michael MK Khor · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Arabian Green Bee-eater and Blue-throated Bee-eater.