How many species of bee-eaters are in Singapore?

I began photographing bee-eaters with my film camera 30 years ago. My journey of discovery and learning started in Singapore, then in peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand. Bee-eaters are beautiful birds. They have long, curved, narrow bills, slender bodies, and long pointed wings. There are 24 species around the world. How many species of bee-eaters are in Singapore? In Singapore, there are two species of bee-eaters. 

1. Blue-throated bee-eater in Singapore

2. Blue-tailed bee-eater in Singapore

How to identify them?

1. Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) has a dark chestnut crown to the mantle and blue throat.
2. Blue-tailed bee-eater (Merops philippinus) has a bronze-green crown/mantle, yellowish upper throat, dull chestnut washed lower throat/ upper breast,

When do you see Bee-eaters in Singapore?

1. The Blue-throated bee-eater breeds from March to June and migrates from September to winter in Indonesia.
2. Blue-tailed arrives in August and stays until March in Singapore.

Bee-eaters are aerial birds found in secondary forests, old plantations, parklands, and urban gardens. Small groups are often perched on the trees very high, making them more difficult to photograph. It was a real treat to see them on the ground on a low perch in Sugai Balang padi field, Johor Baru, Malaysia, a few hours’ drive from Singapore.

How many species of bee-eaters are in Peninsular Malaysia?

Besides the two species found in Singapore, there are 2 more additional species.

1. Red-bearded bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus)

2. Chestnut-headed bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)

The red-bearded bee-eater can be found in Panti Forest in Johor Baru. Although Panti is near Singapore, it has not been sighted locally. Singapore’s limited remaining forest fragments are unsuitable for Red-bearded bee-eaters. The red-bearded bee-eater prefers dense, undisturbed forests near water, unlike Singapore’s urbanized environment

The chestnut-headed bee-eater is more common on the northern peninsula than the southern. It can be found near Ipoh and further up the peninsula. As you go up to Thailand, you can find more species.

How many species of bee-eaters are in Thailand? 

Besides the four in Malaysia, there are 2 additional species

1. Blue-bearded bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni)
2. Green bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

Blue-bearded bee-eater is the most skittish bird I have ever photographed. To get a good shot, you need a hide to get close to the bird. Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand is the best place to photograph the blue-throated bee-eater in the nesting season. Blue-bearded bee-eaters are also available in the north, in Mae Wong National Park in Thailand.

Green Bee-eater

The Green Bee-eater is a small, coppery-rufous crown to mantle, green throat, light blue chin and cheek. It inhabits a drier open country. I found them even in the southern peninsula of Thailand, south of Hua Hin.

How many species of bee-eaters are in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand? 

1. There are two in Singapore
2. There are four in peninsular Malaysia
3. There are six in Thailand.