King Fisher/Bee Eater in Riyadh? (1 Viewer)

[Tubbls]

I spotted what may be a king fisher in Riyadh, KSA. It was about the size of a robin, luminescent green body and darker colored head (blue?). It's beak looked like a king fisher's, but it didn't have "mask" marks on it's face like most do, nor did it have a white throat, so that's why I need your help identifying it. (Sorry, but I couldn't see what color it's under side is.) It was sitting on an electrical line near a farm.

Since this is the desert, I would be surprised if it was a king fisher, but we have had some rain as of late, and it's the fall migratory season.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Phil Andrews]

How about Little Green Bee-eater Tubbls? http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Little_Green_Bee-eater

 

[BirdingRob]

The Al Hayer area of Riyadh has resident white throated kingfishers all year round and common kingfishers in winter. They follow the so called Riyadh river which is a man made stream from the sewage works. It creates a very long (30 kilometre) green valley. The diplomatic quarter in the city can see both kingfishers too near its ornamental stream.

You say its beck was like a kingfisher and it is relatively small so common kingfisher is an option. However the rest of your description fits little green bee-eater as Phil has suggested. It is more likely to sit on a wire too.