Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

A lime-green bee-eater with a thin black mask edged with aquamarine blue. Bright yellow-and-red throat patch is small compared to many other bee-eaters. Somewhat similar to Blue-tailed Bee-eater; look out for less extensive blue around the eye on Blue-tailed, the namesake blue tail, and a larger orange throat patch compared to Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. Found in open areas as well as forests from lowlands up into middle elevations. Gives a pleasantly mellow call starting off with a ticking note, followed by a trill.

In Sri Lanka, the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, also commonly referred to as the Blue-tailed Bee-eater, primarily inhabits the southeastern coastal areas, particularly around Bundala to Pottuvil, where they nest in artificial sand dunes along the coast, often near the shoreline; they are considered migratory, with most populations leaving the island during non-breeding seasons, but small groups may remain resident in the southeast region.

In Sri Lanka, the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater primarily feeds on insects like bees, wasps, and hornets, which it catches in mid-air by diving from a perch, typically a wire or branch, making bees the most prominent part of its diet as suggested by its name; they are also known to eat dragonflies, which may be a significant part of their food intake depending on availability.