Blue-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni)
Order: CORACIIFORMES
Family: MEROPIDAE Bee-eaters
Scientific name: Nyctyornis athertoni
English name: Blue-bearded Bee-eater
Characteristic: Size 35 cm. Upperpart is bright leafy green with a conspicuous shining blue frontal patch. Areas around its chin, neck and breast are adorned with bluish fethers which is quite beard-like. Underpart is more yellowish green streaked boldly with green streaks.
Distribution: India, Myanmar, Southern China, Hainan and throghout SE Asia, except Malaysia.
Habitat: Dry evergreen forest and dipterocarp forest.
Habit: Usually seen as a single bird or in pairs, foraging among the thick foliage or just perching on exposed branch keeping its eyes on passing preys. Mostly hawking for aerial preys, but other terrestrial small reptiles and nectar are also accepted. Breeding time falls between March-May, when a clutch of 4-6 eggs is laid; the incubation time lasts for 14-15 days.
Status: An uncommon resident.
