Bee-Eater of P.Malaysia (Blue-Throated, Blue-Tailed, Bay Headed, Red Bearded Bee Eater)

General information

World : 24 Species
SEA : 6 Species
Malaysia : 4 species

Common Name	Blue-Throated Bee-Eater	Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater	Chestnut-Headed Bee-Eater	Red Bearded Bee-Eater
Scientific Name	Merops viridis (Linnaeus) 1758	Merops superciliosus (Linnaeus) 1766	Merops leschenaultia (Vieillot) 1817	Nyctyornis amictus (Temminck) 1824
Geographical Variation	Nominate race of viridris	Subspecies philippinus	Nominate race od leschenaulti	None recognized
Description
Head and Neck	Blue throat, chocolate brown cap and nape	Green head and necked, Yellow upper throat, rufous-chestnut patch on lower throat	Chestnut crowned and napes, Throat yellow	Overall green plumage, with broad red beard. Female=> red forehead
Breast and underpart	Lack of gorget	Upper breast rufous-chestnut	Narrow chestnut gorget across upper breast	Belly pale green
Back	Upper back chocolate brown,	Green	Upper back chestnut	Green
Tail	Elongated central tail feather	Elongated central tail feather	Central tail not elongated	Underside of tail yellow with broadly black tip
Juvenile	Cap, nape and upperback dark green, central tail feather not elongated	Chestnut patch on throat and breast paler, Central tail feather not elongated	Duller and easily confuse with Green Bee Eater (Merops orientalis)	Head throat and breast green
Behaviour and Breeding
Behaviour	Post breeder venture into more forested area. This is more sighting during the autumn migration movement which may coincide with local movement. Can be seen hawking for insect especially during dawn on termites. Feed mainly on bee, dragonfly and beetle	Very similar to Merops viridis (Linnaeus) 1758.	Perch on tree branch that serve as a screening perch. Short flight will be taken to catch the prey and feed on the same perch. Once favourite perch is detected once and rely on the bird to return to the same perch.	Territorial believe at 20ha for every pair. Perch on clear branches during hunting. Food such as termite, wasps, and small reptile have been recorded.
Breeding	Nest in variety of habitat. This include beach dunes (well’s 1999). Communal nesting where a single bank may accommodate a few nest in one particular time. Breeding season from February to April and young bird sighted in may and june	Breeding began in February to march with juvenile in April to may. Both species may use the same place to nest. However is many nest site species does not nest at the same time and one will nest after the other. This require further study.	Breed in January to February with till mid may.	Nest in burrow where well 1999 “one 1.2m deep”. Excavating from January to February and young flying in June.
Status, Distribution and Habitat
Status	Resident and Migrant Local Migratory	Resident and Migrant Local Migratory	Resident	Resident
Distribution	Throughout PM	Throughout PM	West Coast south to central Perak. Absent in East Coast and Selangor southwards	Throughout
Habitat	Open country forest	Open country, mangrove, flooded area, river bank, wooded area	Wooded country, Open country	Forest

Reference

Ben F.King & Edwards C.Dickson, 1989, A Field Guide To The Birds of South-East Asia, Collins, Grafton Street, London

Craig Robson, 2017, A Field Guide To The Birds of South-East Asia, Bloomsburry, London

Well, David.R, 1999, Birds of The Thai Malay Peninsula Vol 1, Academic Press, London UK