Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus

Beautiful bee-eater with a green back, yellow throat, and buffy underparts. The color of the breast band varies geographically. In some parts of the range it is black, but more commonly it is deep iridescent blue, though even this color looks black in most light. In flight, reveals a striking pattern of rufous patches and black bars on the wings and tail. Found in moist, open habitats including savanna, cultivation, and forest edge. Calls are short, wooden rattles. Very similar to Little Bee-eater, but separated with care by slightly larger size and by the pale patch along the top and back of the yellow throat.