158
PLATE 72: BEE-EATERS AND TCHAGRA
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis V
L: 30. More elegant than European Bee-eater, easily distinguished by black-and-white head
pattern, white underparts with black collar around throat and very long central tail streamers;
also has bluish-green upperparts and blue tail. In flight shows ochre upperwing and coppery
underwing, both with black trailing edge. Often remains below tree canopy and easily overlooked.
Voice Higher-pitched and softer than European Bee-eater, prrrp, prrrp, pruik. Habitat Hills, plains and
wadis with bushes and trees; also agricultural land. Note Vagrant Oman, UAE.Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus PM, MB
L: 30. W: 48. Larger than European Bee-eater and distinctly green or turquoise-green with long
central tail-streamers and strongly rusty-red underwings framed with dark line along trailing edge.
Juvenile duller and lacks long tail projections. From young European Bee-eater by entirely green
plumage, including crown and underparts, and rusty-red underwings. Gregarious; hunts insects in
flight. Vocal and audible at long range. Voice Very similar to European Bee-eater, but higher pitched
and certainly hoarser (throatier), the notes sometimes disyllabic, prrllip-prrllip or prl-rip. Habitat Dry
open country with scattered trees; often perches on overhead wires. Almost anywhere on diurnal
passage. Nests colonially in holes excavated in sandy ground. Note Passage hatched.Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis RB
L: 24. W: 30. Small, mainly green bee-eater with black eye-stripe and elongated central tail
feathers. Arabian birds (muscatensis in N Oman, cyanophrys in S Oman) have blue on supercilium
and throat, rather diffuse dark breast-band (often absent) and shortish tail-streamers. Crown and
nape shining coppery-gold in fresh-plumaged adults. Usually in pairs. Voice In flight, a high-pitched
trreet-trreet or prrrit; often burbles excitedly. Habitat Open country with trees, semi-desert, wadis,
cultivations, parks, gardens. Nests in tunnel in bank or hole excavated in ground. Note Some
dispersal and seasonal movements; vagrant Bahrain, Qatar. [Alt: Little Green Bee-eater]European Bee-eater Merops apiaster pm, mb
L: 28. W: 46. Easily distinguished by chestnut crown and back, bright yellow throat contrasting
with turquoise-blue underparts and, in adult, chestnut upperwing-coverts. In flight shows paler,
pinker underwings than other bee-eaters in the region. Juvenile has greenish upperparts, but shows
chestnut crown and yellow throat (both paler); central tail feathers mere spikes or lacking. Migrates
in vocal flocks, often high overhead, sometimes audible but remaining unseen. Hunts insects in
flight. Voice Similar to Blue-cheeked Bee-eater but softer, lower pitched and more liquid, a far-
carrying prruup, usually not disyllabic. Habitat Open bushy country with scattered trees, riversides
and woodland glades; often on overhead wires. Nests colonially in holes excavated in sand banks,
riversides and roadside cuttings. Note Declining breeder in N Oman; passage hatched.Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus RB
L: 22. Thrush-sized with long, dark, conspicuously white-tipped tail, striking head pattern, large
chestnut wing-patch and heavy black, slightly hooked bill. Secretive with clumsy movements.
Cocks and flicks tail; will hop on ground with tail raised, or glide from bush to bush. Often in pairs.
Voice Song mainly early morning or evening, hidden or in songflight; fluty and melodious, c. 10 notes
with second part descending. Rises with soft wing-noise, singing on glide down from top of arc. Also
characteristic long rising and falling trill, truit-truit-driririririvivir; alarm a harsh shrrr. Habitat Dense
dry scrub with scattered trees. Note Breeding resident in S Oman. [Alt: Black-crowned Bush-shrike]