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Blue-tailed Bee-eater – immature or adult moulting

on 1st December 2021

“I saw these two Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus philippinus) that were part of a family group of 4 birds. One bird was in moult with a shorter tail streamer and had feather moult in the face, neck and wings (left or on top in images).

“The possibilities are of an adult in moult or a juvenile completing the transformation to an adult (immature).

“Wells (1999) records very few adult moults. The behaviour was that of a juvenile as it begged food from the adult (but was not fed). I am inclined to consider this as an immature/sub-adult in view of the light to dark plumage changes in the wing and head.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
18th December 2019

Location: Outskirts of Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Wetlands

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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