Blue-cheeked Bee-eater vs Blue-throated Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Small49 gDesert

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green; its face has blue sides with a black eye stripe, and a yellow and brown throat; the beak is black. It can reach a length of 31 cm (12 in), with the two elongated central tail feathers adding another 7 cm (2.8 in). Sexes are mostly alike but the tail-streamers of the female are shorter. This is a bird which breeds in sub-tropical semi-desert with a few trees, such as acacia. It winters in open woodland or grassland.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Koshy Koshy · CC BY 2.0

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

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