From Opus

Photo by James Wang
taken in Dongzhai Reserve, Henan Province,China.

Merops viridis

[edit] 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.

[edit] Distribution

Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

[edit] Taxonomy

There are 2 subspecies:

• M v viridis
• M v americanus

[edit] Habitat

Lowland forest, mangroves, grasslands, marshes, beach scrub and gardens.

[edit] 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.

[edit] External Links