Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Merops leschenaulti Vieillot, 1817

Meropidae — Bee-eaters

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti, is a bee-eater in the family Meropidae that breeds across the Oriental Region, from the Himalayas in north-west and south-west India and Sri Lanka to the Andaman Islands, southern China, Vietnam and the northern Malay Peninsula, with separate populations on Java and Bali. It was described by Vieillot in 1817. It is set apart from most of its relatives by the absence of the two long central tail feathers. Sexes are alike, while young birds are duller.

Order
Coraciiformes
Family
Meropidae — Bee-eaters
Breeding range
Oriental Region: Himalayas from nw India and sw India and Sri Lanka to Andaman Is., s China, Vietnam, and n Malay Pen.; disjunctly Java and Bali
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
© Samsviewfinder · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

9 tours in Thailand 7, Sri Lanka 1, Indonesia 1

Bellanwila-Attidiya and Bodhinagala Private Birding Day
Bellanwila-Attidiya and Bodhinagala Private Birding Day
Sri Lanka / Colombo Private tour 1 day

A private full day combining the Bellanwila-Attidiya marshes with Bodhinagala forest, with a target of more than 70 species....

5‑day 4‑night Bali Birding Tour
5‑day 4‑night Bali Birding Tour
Indonesia / Bali Group tour 5 days

A five-day circuit through Batukaru, Bali Barat, Bedugul, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu, covering Bali’s major birding habitats....

From USD 999
Ultimate Thailand Bird Watching 35 Days Trip
Ultimate Thailand Bird Watching 35 Days Trip
Thailand Group tour 35 days

Ultimate Thailand Bird Watching – 35 Days / 34 Nights is an extensive and immersive birding journey across the full range of Thailand’s ...

Khao Sok Bird Watching by Canoeing 3 Days
Khao Sok Bird Watching by Canoeing 3 Days
Thailand / Khao Sok Group tour 3 days

Khao Sok Bird Watching by Canoeing – 3 Days / 2 Nights is a unique wildlife adventure combining birdwatching with serene canoe exploration...

Khao Luang (Krung Ching) Bird Watching 3 Days Trip
Khao Luang (Krung Ching) Bird Watching 3 Days Trip
Thailand / Khao Luang Group tour 3 days

Khao Luang (Krung Ching) Bird Watching – 3 Days / 2 Nights is an immersive birdwatching adventure in Khao Luang National Park in southern ...

Khao Yai National Park Bird Watching 3 Days Trip
Khao Yai National Park Bird Watching 3 Days Trip
Thailand / Khao Yai Group tour 3 days

Khao Yai Bird Watching – 3 Days / 2 Nights is an in-depth birding adventure through Thailand’s iconic Khao Yai National Park. Over three...

Khao Yai Bird Watching Day Trip
Khao Yai Bird Watching Day Trip
Thailand / Khao Yai Group tour 1 day

Khao Yai Bird Watching Day Trip is a full‑day guided birding adventure in Thailand’s lush Khao Yai National Park, home to diverse forest...

Kaeng Krachan Bird Watching Day Trip
Kaeng Krachan Bird Watching Day Trip
Thailand / Kaeng Krachan Group tour 1 day

Kaeng Krachan Bird Watching Day Trip is a full‑day guided birding adventure into Thailand’s largest national park, famous for its divers...

Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip
Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip
Thailand / Khao Sok Private tour 1 day

Escape into one of Thailand’s most spectacular rainforests on this Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip. Just a few hours from Phuket and Khao ...