Asian green bee-eater

The Asian green bee-eater, also known as the little green bee-eater, and just green bee-eater in Sri Lanka, is a bird species in the bee-eater family. It is resident but prone to seasonal movements and is found widely distributed across Asia from coastal southern Iran east through the Indian subcontinent to Vietnam. Populations in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula that were formerly assigned to this species are now considered distinct species: the African green bee-eater and the Arabian green bee-eater. They are mainly insect eaters and they are found in grassland, thin scrub and forest often quite far from water. Several regional plumage variations are known and several subspecies have been named.

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Distribution

Region

South and Southeast Asia

Typical Environment

Found from coastal southern Iran across the Indian subcontinent to Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, including Sri Lanka. It favors open country such as farmland, grassland, scrub, and lightly wooded edges, often near sandy banks suitable for nesting. The species readily uses wires, fences, and bare twigs as hunting perches. It can occur far from open water where insect prey is abundant.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size16–18 cm

Wing Span25–30 cm

Male Weight0.018 kg

Female Weight0.017 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

This small bee-eater hawks insects from exposed perches and deftly removes stingers by bashing prey on a branch before swallowing. It nests in self-dug tunnels in sandy banks or flat ground, sometimes forming small colonies and occasionally with helpers at the nest. Individuals often sunbathe and dust-bathe, behaviors thought to help control ectoparasites.

Gallery

Asian green bee-eater dust bathing near Roorkee, Uttarakhand

Asian green bee-eater eating an ant in Naihati, West Bengal

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief glides

Social Behavior

Often seen in pairs or small groups, frequently perching together on wires or bare twigs. Nests are excavated burrows in sandy banks or level ground; pairs are typically monogamous and may nest semi-colonially. In some areas, helpers assist with feeding young and defending burrows.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Calls are soft, rolling prree or trree notes, often given in series during foraging flights. The voice carries well over open ground and is heard frequently as birds sally out and return to perches.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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