Bird Guide

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater vs Olive Bee-eater

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates)

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

Small24 gWoodland

The species measures 22 centimetres (8.7 in) in length and weighs 17–38 grams (0.60–1.34 oz). The sexes are alike. They have bright green heads, upper parts, and tails; their chins and throats are yellow and outlined in black, with a white extension to the side; their breasts are cinnamon-brown, darkening towards the belly. When perched, their stance is upright with the tail pointing downward. The tail is blackish with an orange base and white tip when seen from the front, while from the back it is mainly green, with black edges visible when it is flared.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Recorded by Anne Ndung'u · Call · Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0
Olive Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus)

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

Small39 gShrubland

The olive bee-eater grows to a length of 23 to 26 cm (9.1 to 10.2 in) with its tail streamers adding up to 7 cm (2.8 in). The sexes are similar, and adults have bronzy-green plumage with an olive cap and white forehead, eyebrows, chin and cheeks. The rump and tail are blue, apart from the streamers, which are black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: William Stephens · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater and Olive Bee-eater.