Green Bee-eater

The Green Bee-eater is a widespread and familiar sight across open country from Africa through the Middle East to South Asia, often seen perched on wires or dead branches before darting out to snatch flying insects. Its overall bright green plumage makes it blend remarkably well with foliage until it takes flight.

Several regional forms exist across its broad range, varying somewhat in throat color and the presence of a rufous crown, but all share the species' characteristic slender build and pin-tailed silhouette.

• Body is bright grass-green overall, both above and below
• Throat shows a blue or turquoise wash bordered by a thin black gorget line in most populations
• Face has a black stripe through the eye, often bordered with a thin blue line above
• Tail has elongated, needle-like central feathers projecting beyond the rest of the tail, shorter and stouter than those of the White-throated Bee-eater
• Wings are green with rufous-tinged flight feathers visible in flight
• Regional forms vary, with some showing a rufous or bronze crown, but the green body and pin-tail shape remain constant across the species

Adults are green overall year-round with subtle regional variation in throat and crown color; sexes look alike, though males often have slightly longer tail streamers. Juveniles lack the elongated central tail feathers and show a less defined facial pattern, with duller green plumage overall. There is minimal seasonal plumage change, with wear gradually dulling the green tones between molts.

The Green Bee-eater occupies open country, farmland, scrub, and semi-desert edges across a broad range from sub-Saharan Africa through the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia. It is largely resident across much of its range, with some populations undertaking short seasonal movements tied to food availability.

This species feeds on flying insects, especially bees, wasps, and other winged prey, hunting by sallying from an exposed perch such as a wire or bare branch. Nests are excavated as tunnel burrows in sandy banks or level ground, often in loose colonies. Its call is a pleasant, rolling trill, frequently given in flight and while perched in small groups.