The green bee-eater (Merops orientalis) is a small, passerine bird species of the bee-eater family Meropidae. With unmistakable bright green plumage and a characteristic bluish-green throat, this bee-eater species has a wide distribution across Asia. As evident from the name, the Asian green-bee eater is an insectivore. These birds primarily prey on flying insects including bees, butterflies, wasps, dragonflies, beetles, and other insects of the order Hymenoptera.
Throughout their distribution range, the breeding season of green bee-eaters extends from March to June. Egg-laying may occasionally take place in July and August as well. Both male and female birds of breeding pairs participate in digging the nest burrow during the breeding season. The nests have a long, tunnel-like entrance that ends in a chamber where eggs are laid.
The typical call of a green bee-eater is a long and repetitive whistle 'trrrr...trrrr...trrrr' that sounds like a nasal trill. The call is mostly heard when these birds are in flight and hunting for flying insects. Alarm calls may be a staccato 'ti-ti-ti-ti' or 'ti-ic'. Loud calls are also common when the birds roost communally.