About Merops viridissimus Swainson, 1837
Merops viridissimus Swainson, 1837 measures 16–18 centimetres (6.3–7.1 in) in length, not including the extra 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) added by its elongated central tail feathers. Its head and body plumage is dull yellowish-green, with two distinct markings: a slender black eyestripe that has a very narrow blue line along its lower edge, and a black crescent across the upper breast just below the throat. The species’ most distinctive features are its yellowish-green throat, which contrasts with the blue throats of the related species M. orientalis and M. cyanophrys, and its much longer central tail feathers. The upper surfaces of the wing and tail feathers are bronzed coppery-green, while their lower surfaces are coppery-orange. The iris is red, the bill is black, and the legs are dark grey. Juveniles are paler and duller overall than adults, and do not have elongated tail feathers or the black crescent on the throat. This species also differs in its voice from both M. orientalis and M. cyanophrys. This species occurs across the semiarid regions of Africa, and its distribution aligns roughly with the Sahel. It spans from coast to coast, reaching as far west as Senegal and as far east as Ethiopia. The species has benefited from agricultural changes and increased irrigation in the region, which has led to higher abundance and a range expansion along the Nile. It colonized Egypt before 2001, and now occurs as far north as the Nile Delta. Because of its growing population and its ability to thrive in habitats modified by humans, it is not considered to be under threat.
