Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Scientific Name: Merops philippinus
Malay Name: Berek-berek Zaitun Asia
Chinese Name: 栗喉蜂虎

Range:
Widespread through South and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 23-24 cm

Identification:
Adult quite distinctive and is green overall with orange-chestnut lower throat, black eyestripe that gets thinner closer to the bill and bluish rump/tail. Also shows the typical shape of a bee-eater — long and slightly downcurved bill with long tail-streamers. Juvenile has duller lower throat and lacks tail-streamers.

Similar looking species: Blue-throated Bee-eater

Habitat: Open and urban areas, marshes, grasslands and forests.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds in flight on a variety of flying insects including dragonflies, bees and large flies.

Local Status: Common migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Any patch of suitable habitat.

Photos:

Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Seletar Aerospace Crescent. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Seletar Aerospace Crescent. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Photo credit: Mohamad Zahidi

Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Merops philippinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.