Blue-breasted Bee-eater

The Blue-breasted Bee-eater (Merops variegatus) is a bird species native to central Africa and belongs to the bee-eater family, Meropidae. Members of this family share a similar appearance and are well known for their specialized diet, which mainly consists of Hymenopterans such as bees and wasps.

Physical Characteristics

The Blue-breasted Bee-eater displays many of the typical features associated with Meropidae species. It has a noticeably large head, a short neck, colorful feathers, a long, narrow, curved bill, and a prominent black stripe running across the eyes.

This species is relatively small, with a body weight ranging from 20 to 26 grams and a length of approximately 18 to 21 centimeters. Its overall coloration is dominated by green tones, including a green crown, green upper body feathers, and pale greenish-yellow underparts.

Wing and Tail Features

The primary wing feathers have a reddish-brown tint, while the secondary feathers are green with black tips. Compared with many migratory bee-eater species, the wings of the Blue-breasted Bee-eater are more rounded at the ends rather than sharply pointed.

The tail consists of twelve rectrices. The outer tail feathers show a reddish-brown wash, while the central feathers remain green. A dark band appears near the end of the tail, followed by white tips. The tail has a slightly forked or shallow V-shaped appearance and does not have the long tail streamers commonly seen in some other members of the bee-eater family.