Asian Green Bee-eater
Merops orientalis
Like other bee-eaters, this species is a slender, richly coloured bird. It is 16–18 centimetres (6.3–7.1 in) long excluding the elongated central tail-feathers, which are an additional 7 cm (2.8 in) long. The entire plumage is bright green, tinged with blue especially on the chin and throat, while the crown and upper back are tinged with golden rufous. The flight feathers are rufous washed with green and tipped with blackish. A fine black eyestripe line runs in front of and behind the eye, and there is also a slender black crescent at the top of the breast below the throat.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Merops philippinus
This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green; its face has a narrow blue patch with a black eye stripe, and a yellow and brown throat; the tail is blue and the beak is black. The three outer toes are united around their bases. It is around 29 cm long excluding the elongated central tail feathers, which are an additional 7 cm long, and a weight of around 29–43 grams. Sexes are alike. The juveniles are drabber, and lack the elongated central tail feathers.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
Learn this pair in BeakBrain
Photo and call practice, free in any browser.
Play BeakBrainPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Asian Green Bee-eater and Blue-tailed Bee-eater.