- Merops viridis
Identification
27-28cm. Brown head, nape and upper back, blue throat, 9cm long central tail streamers. Sexes similar.
Juvenile - green cap and throat green; lacks elongated central feathers.
Distribution
Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Taxonomy
There are 2 subspecies:
- M v viridis
- M v americanus
Habitat
Lowland forest, mangroves, grasslands, marshes, beach scrub and gardens.
Behaviour
The diet includes bees, wasps, hornets, ants, dragonflies, grasshoppers, small lizards and fish.
They nest in an earth bank, preferring sandy soil; 3-6 white eggs are laid and incubated by both parents.
