A tiny bird dressed in brilliant emerald green, sleek, with fast movements – that’s the Asian green bee-eater, one of the colorful birds you’ll encounter in India.
Asian green bee-eaters are the most familiar and widespread bee-eater found across the Indian subcontinent. They favor open areas near water bodies, agricultural lands, country roadsides and forest edges. You’ll spot them perched on wires, bare branches, dried reeds.
These birds are highly social and often gather in small groups or colonies. You might spot several perched together on the same branch. Both parents share incubation and feeding duties.
Size: 16-18 centimeters (9 inches) in length, with the two elongated central tail feathers (in adults) contributing up to 7 centimeters.
Identification: Bright emerald-green plumage covering the upperparts, rump, and underparts. The crown and upper back display a distinctive light rufous-brown / coppery tinge, while the chin and throat are greenish-blue. A conspicuous black line runs from the base of the bill, through the eye, and extends behind it. A narrow black gorget (like a necklace) adorns the lower throat. The flight feathers are rufous-washed green with blackish tips. Its iris is dark crimson-red, the bill is black and slightly curved, and the legs are dark grey.
Both males and females look identical, though males may show slightly brighter colors and longer tail streamers.
Names in local Indian languages:
| हिंदी – हरियल पतरिंगा, हरा पतरंगा | বাংলা – সবুজ বাঁশপাতি, বাঁশপাতি |
| मराठी – वेडा राघू | অসমীয়া – সেউজীয়া জিঞাঁখাতী |
Global IUCN 2025 Red List category: LC – Least Concerned
