African Green Bee-eater vs Arabian Green Bee-eater
Merops viridissimus versus Merops cyanophrys
Play a quiz with African Green Bee-eater and Arabian Green Bee-eater
African Green Bee-eater
Arabian Green Bee-eater
In short
The African Green Bee-eater and Arabian Green Bee-eater are best distinguished by their tail length: the Arabian Green Bee-eater has considerably shorter tail streamers. Both species share a largely green-and-blue plumage and similar feeding habits.
Identification tips
Look for the tail length: the Arabian Green Bee-eater has considerably shorter tail streamers compared to the African Green Bee-eater. Both species have similar plumage, so focus on tail characteristics for reliable identification.
Plumage
Both species have largely green-and-blue plumage, making them similar in appearance.
Behaviour
Both species hunt flying insects, mainly Hymenoptera, from a perch, making sallies low over vegetation.
Habitat
The African Green Bee-eater is found across the northern third of Africa, while the Arabian Green Bee-eater inhabits the Middle East, including Israel, Jordan, and much of the Arabian Peninsula.
African Green Bee-eater · Arabian Green Bee-eater · My Tricky Birds