Blue-throated Bee-eater vs Blue-tailed Bee-eater

In short

The most reliable field mark to separate Blue-throated Bee-eater from Blue-tailed Bee-eater is the throat color: Blue-throated has a vivid blue throat, while Blue-tailed shows a yellow and brown throat. Adults of Blue-throated also have a distinctive red-brown crown and nape, contrasting with the predominantly green and blue tones of Blue-tailed. Juveniles of both are drabber, but Blue-throated juveniles are greenish all over with a dark green head, lacking the blue throat and tail. Both species have elongated central tail feathers as adults, but Blue-throated's are longer. Habitat can help: Blue-throated favors mangroves and forest edges, while Blue-tailed is more often in open areas near water. In flight or perched, focus on throat, crown, and overall color balance for the quickest separation.

Identification tips

1. Throat color is key: Blue-throated Bee-eater always shows a bright blue throat (adults), while Blue-tailed has a yellow and brown throat (all ages).
2. Crown and nape: Blue-throated has a striking red-brown crown and nape in adults; Blue-tailed's crown is green, blending with the rest of the upperparts.
3. Juvenile confusion: Juvenile Blue-throated is green all over with a dark green head and no blue on the throat or tail; juvenile Blue-tailed is also drab but shows a yellowish-brown throat and some blue in the tail.
4. Tail feathers: Both species have elongated central tail feathers as adults, but Blue-throated's are longer (9 cm vs. 7 cm) and more prominent. Juveniles of both lack these extensions.
5. Underparts: Blue-throated has a light green breast and belly; Blue-tailed is more uniformly green below, sometimes with a yellowish wash near the throat.
6. Face pattern: Both have a black eye-stripe, but Blue-tailed has a narrow blue face patch, while Blue-throated's face is dominated by the blue throat and rufous crown.
7. Tail and rump: Blue-tailed has a blue tail and rump, which can be prominent in flight; Blue-throated also has a blue tail but lacks the blue rump.
8. Habitat clues: In mangroves or forest edge, expect Blue-throated; in open country, sandbanks, or river valleys, Blue-tailed is more likely.
9. Group behavior: Blue-tailed often breeds and roosts colonially, sometimes with helpers at the nest; Blue-throated is less colonial, more often seen in pairs or small groups.
10. Flight style: Both use a mix of flapping and gliding, but Blue-tailed is more likely to be seen in large migratory flocks in open areas.
11. Voice: Blue-tailed's 'teerp' call is distinctive if heard, but calls are not always diagnostic without experience.
12. Sex differences: Both are sexually similar to the eye; minor differences in tail length and UV reflectance are not useful in the field.
13. Size: Blue-tailed is slightly larger, but overlap is significant; use color and structure first.
14. Seasonal context: Both migrate, but Blue-tailed is more strongly migratory and likely to appear in new areas seasonally.
15. Perched vs. in flight: When perched, focus on throat and crown color; in flight, look for tail length and overall color balance, but beware that juveniles of both can look similar at a distance.

Size

Blue-tailed Bee-eater is slightly larger overall, measuring about 29 cm in body length (excluding the 7 cm central tail feathers) and weighing 29–43 grams. Blue-throated Bee-eater is about 21 cm in body length (excluding the longer 9 cm central tail feathers) and weighs 34–41 grams. The difference in body length is mostly due to the tail feather extensions, with Blue-throated's being proportionally longer. Both are slender, medium-large bee-eaters, and size alone is rarely diagnostic in the field.

Plumage

Juveniles of both species are duller than adults and lack the elongated central tail feathers. Blue-throated juveniles are mostly green with a dark green head and wings and light green breast, lacking any blue on the throat or tail. Blue-tailed juveniles are also drab but already show a hint of blue in the tail and have a yellowish-brown throat, not blue. In adults, Blue-throated stands out with a red-brown crown and nape, blue throat, dark green wings, blue tail, and light green underparts. Blue-tailed adults are predominantly green with a blue tail and rump, yellow and brown throat, and a narrow blue face patch. Both have a black eye-stripe, but only Blue-throated shows the strong blue throat and rufous crown. Sexes are similar in both, but male Blue-tailed may have slightly longer tail feathers and subtle UV differences not visible in the field.

Behaviour

Both species catch flying insects on the wing and often perch openly. Blue-tailed Bee-eater is more likely to be seen in groups, breeding colonially in sandy banks and foraging communally. Blue-throated is also social but is more often associated with forest edges and mangroves, sometimes seen resting on trees or man-made structures during migration. Both species migrate in flocks, sometimes together, but Blue-tailed is more strongly migratory and forms larger visible flocks in open country.

Habitat

Blue-throated Bee-eater prefers subtropical or tropical mangrove forests and forest edges in Southeast Asia, often near water but within more wooded or semi-wooded settings. Blue-tailed Bee-eater is typically found in open habitats near water—river valleys, lakeshores, sandbanks, and even estuaries—avoiding dense forest. If you see a bee-eater in a mangrove or forest edge, Blue-throated is more likely; in open, sandy, or riverine settings, especially with colonies, Blue-tailed is the default.

Voice

Both species have varied calls, but Blue-tailed is noted for a rolling, chirping, whistling 'teerp' call, mainly given in flight. Blue-throated has a rich variety of calls, including long-distance calls for forest communication, but the differences are subtle and not reliably diagnostic in the field without experience.