Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Largely unmistakable, but might be mistaken for an egret when at a distance. Differs from these in bill-shape and in neck held straight (not retracted) in flight. Plumage white with yellowish half collar and neck tuft in breeding season. Bill and legs dark. Immature birds with black tips to primaries and pinkish bill. Characteristic feeding behaviour with sweeping bill-motions from side to side. Wing-beats slower than Glossy Ibis, and flocks generally fly in single file.
Sound:Mostly silent, and of little use for identification. Soft utterances can be heard when feeding, and when interacting at nest.
Distribution:Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCUnmistakable if seen well. Stunning, bright yellow throat and turquoise underparts. Upperside of wings multicoloured with noticeable light buff shoulders, as opposed to other Bee-eaters in the region. In flight the underwing shows a black trailing edge, which on the secondaries becomes broader closer to the body . Often flies high and then reveals itself only by its flight call.
Sound:Quite vocal in all activities. Call a short and soft "pju" often quickly repeated forming multi-syllabic, rolling phrases.
Contact call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC