Coraciiformes / Meropidae / Nyctyornis
Blue-bearded Bee-eater
Nyctyornis athertoni · 蓝须夜蜂虎
Introduction
A species of bee-eater found in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, primarily in forest clearings at medium altitudes. It is distinguished by elongated blue throat feathers and a square-ended tail lacking central streamers. The species is less gregarious and active than smaller bee-eaters.
Description
Probably the largest bee-eater, measuring 31 to 35 cm in length and weighing 70 to 93 g. It has a large sickle-shaped bill and grass-green plumage with a turquoise forehead, face, and chin. Throat feathers are elongated and blue, creating a bearded appearance when fluffed. The belly is yellowish to olive with green or blue streaks. Peninsular Indian populations are paler green than northeastern ones. Males and females appear similar, though male throat feathers show higher ultraviolet reflectivity. The tail is square-ended, lacking the typical central shaft wires of other bee-eaters.
Identification
Identified by its large size, grass-green body, turquoise face, and distinctive elongated blue throat feathers. The square-ended tail lacks the streamers common in other bee-eaters. Flight is undulating and barbet-like. Vocalizations include loud, infrequent cackling hornbill-like calls, dry 'Kit-tik' series, and hollow nasal 'kyao' notes. Pairs may duet with cackling and rattling ending in purring.
Distribution & Habitat
Found mainly in the Malayan region, extending west into peninsular India, and across parts of mainland Southeast Asia. An insular population (subspecies brevicaudatus) occurs in Hainan. Habitat includes thin to fairly thick forests at medium elevations (below 2000m) with clearings. Reported from hill regions of the Satpuras, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris, Chota Nagpur, and Sub-Himalayan forests. Distribution is patchy.
Behavior & Ecology
Found singly or in small groups of up to three. Feeds mainly on bees, exploiting Giant honey bee colonies by provoking guard bees to pursue and catch them in aerial sallies; occasionally gleans from bark. May associate with mixed-species foraging flocks. Breeding season in India is February to August, involving courtship rituals of feeding, bowing, and tail fanning. Nests are deep tunnels in mud banks containing four spherical white eggs. Nest excavation begins a month before laying.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Meropidae
- Genus
- Nyctyornis
Subspecies (2)
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Nyctyornis athertoni athertoni
India to southwestern China and southeastern Asia
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
