Bird Guide

Blue-throated Bee-eater vs White-throated Bee-eater

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
White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis)

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Small26 gGrassland

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green, but its face and throat are white with a black crown, eye stripe, and neckband. The underparts are pale green shading to blue on the breast. The eye is red and the beak is black. The white-throated bee-eater can reach a length of 19–21 cm, excluding the two very elongated central tail feathers, which can exceed an additional length of 12 cm. They weigh between 20 and 28 grams. Sexes are alike, except that the male has longer tail feathers. The call is similar to European bee-eater.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the White-throated Bee-eater
Recorded by Anne Ndung'u · Flight call, song · Kilifi County, Kenya · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

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