Bird Guide

Blue-bearded Bee-eater vs Red-bearded Bee-eater

Blue-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni)

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Nyctyornis athertoni

Medium84 gForest

This is probably the largest species of the bee-eater family. Adults measure 31 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in length and weigh 70 to 93 g (2.5 to 3.3 oz). This species has a large sickle shaped bill and the square ended tail lacks the "wires" that are typical of smaller bee-eaters. The bird is grass green with a turquoise forehead, face and chin. The feathers of the throat are elongated giving it a bearded appearance when they are fluffed out. The belly is yellowish to olive with streaks of green or blue.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mike Prince · CC BY 2.0
Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus)

Red-bearded Bee-eater

Nyctyornis amictus

Medium72 gForest

Like other bee-eaters, they are colourful birds with long tails, long decurved beaks and pointed wings. They are large bee-eaters, predominantly green, with a red colouration to face that extends on to the slightly hanging throat feathers to form the "beard". Their eyes are orange.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mike Prince from Bangalore, India · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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