Meropidae – Bee-eaters

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– medium-sized near passerine, slightly smaller than Western Jackdaw, slimmer and longer-winged
– diurnal/nocturnal migrant
– migrates singly or more often in small to medium flocks
– very vocal

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD
BIF3168, 02/06/2018, Narimanabad, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD
BIF3140, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– same size and structure as European Bee-Eater but with lime-green rather than sky-blue body
– yellow chin and dark orange throat patch diffusely merging to green breast (lacks the black line of European Bee-eater)

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD
BIF3271, 02/06/2018, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– almost unicoloured blue-green upperside, bluish rump patch
– AD with two generations of primaries

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD
BIF3141, 07/05/2012, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– tail streamers (longest in M) on average slightly longer and thinner than in European Bee-eater
– narrower black eye mask than European Bee-eater framed white to light blue

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD
BIF3142, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– uniform rusty red underwing with fairly indistinct, evenly narrow dark trailing edge

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, 1CY
BIF3138, 21/09/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– JUV duller overall appearance with narrow pale fringes to upperwing coverts
– lacks elongated central rectrices

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, 1CY
BIF3139, 19/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– throat patch larger and more uniform rusty orange than in AD
– whitish markings edging the black eye mask narrower and more indistinct than in AD

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD and 1CY
BIF3269, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– note the different generations of primaries in the AD (out of focus)

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, 1CY
BIF3268, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– remiges from above olive green with a rather indistinct narrow trailing edge (cf. European Bee-eater)

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD
BIF3272, 01/06/2018, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– AD often appear more elongated than European Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus
BIF3171, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus
BIF3170, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus
BIF3172, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus</em
BIF3173, 18/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

>> AUCOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– most often to be heard a broadly modulated overslur
– the overslur is usually separated in the middle -> European Bee-eater
– the sound quality is raspier, harsher than in European Bee-eater
– also in a higher frequency-band
– even (inharmonic) partials

– overview –

– detail –

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus chrysocercus, AD, calls in flight
BIF3143, 10/05/2012, Sandafa Al Far, Egypt, Patrick Franke

– overview –

– detail –

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus chrysocercus, AD, calls in flight
BIF3144, 10/05/2012, Sandafa Al Far, Egypt, Patrick Franke

– overview –

– detail –

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD, calls in flight
BIF3145, 21/09/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

– overview –

– detail –

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops p. persicus, AD, calls in flight
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, AD
BIF3146, 21/09/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

European Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater

#nearpasserine

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress

>> GENERAL >>>>>

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
BIF2006, 19/06/2010, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– underside: yellow throat and sky blue body separated by a black line

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
BIF2007, 19/06/2010, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– distinct black trailing edge to the wing – obviously broader at the secondaries

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
BIF2009, 19/06/2010, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– vent slightly paler

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, AD M
BIF3274, 30/05/2020, Wolgast, Germany, Roland Neumann
– upperside: cap, upper back, most secondaries and inner wing coverts chestnut
– orange-brown back, yellow scapulars and bluish outer wing give a very colourful impression

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, AD F
BIF3273, 30/05/2020, Wolgast, Germany, Roland Neumann
– F slightly paler than M, inner wing coverts not as uniform and as rich chestnut
– shorter tail streamers

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, AD
BIF2018, 19/07/2010, Spain, Mathias Putze
– pale rusty orange underwing with slightly translucent and more intense coloured secondaries
– AD with tail streamers (on average shorter than in Blue-cheeked Bee-eater)

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, AD M
BIF2254, 27/05/2017, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, Mathias Putze
– typical bee-eater silhouette
– M is more colourful and cleaner patterned than F

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, AD M
BIF3275, 08/05/2012, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Micha Heiß
– like a flying arrow

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, JUV
BIF2255, 05/11/2017, Ethopia, Mathias Putze
– in JUV paler overall appearance
– line between yellow throat and blue body less prominent

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, JUV
BIF2256, 05/11/2017, Ethopia, Mathias Putze

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, JUV
BIF3267, 10/08/2012, Azerbaijan, Micha Heiß
– JUV plumage: upperside greyish green and thus similar to Blue-cheeked Bee-eater but note the chestnut cap and the orange brown secondaries with distinctly broader black trailing edge

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– most often to be heard a simple overslur or broadly modulated overslur
– the overslur is usually not separated in the middle -> Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
– the sound quality is less raspy than in Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
– also in a lower frequency-band
– even (inharmonic) partials

– overview –

– details –
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, AD, calls in flight
BIF3155, 27/07/2016, Sachsen-Anhalt, Patrick Franke

– overview –
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, 300 birds, flight calls during migration
BIF3156, 16/09/2019, Batumi, Georgia, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater

#nearpasserine

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress