Green Bee-eater

About

The Green Bee-eater, also known as the Little Green Bee-eater, is a small, brightly colored insectivorous bird found across a wide range of Africa and Asia. It is characterized by its predominantly green plumage, long central tail feathers, and a distinctive black eye-stripe. These birds are highly agile flyers, adept at catching insects in mid-air.

Size & lifespan

Length

16-18 cm (including 5-7 cm tail streamers)

Wingspan

28-32 cm

Weight

15-20 g

Lifespan

Approximately 5-7 years in the wild

Diet

Insectivore

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Predominantly bright green, often with a golden-green wash on the crown and mantle. The throat is typically blue-green, sometimes with a rufous or yellowish tinge depending on the subspecies. A prominent black stripe runs through the eye, bordered by a narrow blue line above and below. The flight feathers are rufous with green tips, and the underparts are pale green. The central tail feathers are elongated into distinctive streamers, especially in adults.

Beak shape

Long, slender, decurved black bill, sharply pointed.

Eye color

Reddish-brown.

Leg color

Dark grey to blackish.

Distinguishing features

Bright green plumage, black eye-stripe, long central tail streamers (absent in juveniles), slender decurved bill, and agile flight.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are duller green overall, lack the elongated central tail streamers, and have a less defined black eye-stripe. Their throat may be paler, and the crown can be more brownish-green.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. The intensity of colors might vary slightly due to feather wear or freshness after molting.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are generally similar in plumage. Males typically have slightly longer central tail streamers than females, but this is not a reliable field mark for sexing individuals.

How to identify

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   Small, slender bird with a long, decurved bill and often elongated central tail feathers.

2. 2

   Plumage Color

   Overall bright green, with a golden-green crown and blue-green throat. Look for the distinct black eye-stripe.

3. 3

   Tail Streamers

   Adults possess two long, thin central tail feathers that extend beyond the rest of the tail. Juveniles lack these.

4. 4

   Perching Behavior

   Often perches conspicuously on exposed branches, wires, or posts, providing excellent views.

5. 5

   Flight Style

   Agile, undulating flight as it sallies out to catch insects, often returning to the same perch.

6. 6

   Vocalization

   Listen for its characteristic soft, trilling 'trrr-trrr-trrr' call, often given in flight.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Arid and semi-arid regions, open woodlands, scrublands, grasslands, agricultural areas, gardens, and savannas.

Geographic range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa (from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to Angola), the Arabian Peninsula, and much of South Asia (from Iran east to Vietnam and south to Sri Lanka).

Elevation range

Typically found from sea level up to 2,000 meters, occasionally higher.

Preferred environments

Prefers open country with scattered bushes, trees, or wires for perching, often near water sources. Avoids dense forests.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal.

Feeding habits

Primarily aerial insectivores. They perch on exposed branches, wires, or posts, sallying out to catch flying insects, especially bees, wasps, dragonflies, and butterflies. Before consuming stinging insects, they typically rub the insect's abdomen against their perch to remove the sting. They are highly efficient hunters.

Social behavior

Often seen singly, in pairs, or in small family groups. Outside the breeding season, they may form larger communal roosts, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They are generally quite tame and approachable.

Flight pattern

Graceful, undulating flight with rapid wing beats, often interspersed with glides. Highly agile and acrobatic when pursuing insects.

Migration pattern

Mostly resident throughout their range, but some populations undertake local or short-distance seasonal movements, particularly in response to rainfall and insect availability. Northern populations in parts of Asia may be migratory.

Territoriality

During the breeding season, pairs defend a small territory around their nesting burrow. Outside of breeding, they are less territorial.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically, generally coinciding with the rainy season and peak insect abundance. For example, March-June in India, April-July in parts of Africa.

Nesting habits

Colonial or solitary nesters. They excavate long, narrow tunnels (1-2 meters deep) in sandy banks, cliffs, or flat ground. Both sexes participate in digging the burrow.

Clutch size

3-7 eggs, typically 4-6.

Egg description

Spherical, glossy white eggs.

Incubation period

Approximately 14-18 days, shared by both parents.

Fledging period

Chicks fledge around 22-30 days after hatching. Both parents feed the young.

Parental care

Both male and female participate in nest excavation, incubation, and feeding of the young. Sometimes, non-breeding helpers (often offspring from previous broods) assist in feeding the chicks.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Look for Perches. Scan exposed perches like dead branches, wires, and fences. Bee-eaters are sit-and-wait predators.
2. Listen for Calls. Their distinctive trilling call is often the first indication of their presence, especially when they are flying overhead.
3. Observe Flight. Watch for their characteristic agile, undulating flight as they chase insects. They often return to the same perch after a sally.
4. Visit During Peak Insect Activity. They are most active during warmer parts of the day when insects are abundant.
5. Check Nesting Sites. During the breeding season, visit sandy banks or cliffs where they might be excavating burrows.

Similar species

Quick facts

Primary Diet:

Flying insects (bees, wasps, dragonflies)

Nesting Type:

Burrow nester (in sandy banks)

Social Structure:

Pairs or small groups, communal roosts outside breeding

Key ID Feature:

Bright green plumage, black eye-stripe, long tail streamers

Conservation Status:

Least Concern (stable population)

Fun facts

• Green Bee-eaters are highly skilled at removing the stings from bees and wasps before consuming them, by repeatedly rubbing the insect's abdomen against a hard surface.
• They are known to engage in cooperative breeding, where young from previous broods or other non-breeding adults help the breeding pair raise their chicks.
• Despite their name, bees and wasps typically make up only a portion of their diet; they consume a wide variety of flying insects.
• Their long, slender central tail streamers are a key feature of adult birds and are absent in juveniles.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Coraciiformes

Family

Meropidae

Genus

Merops

Species

Merops orientalis

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