The Blue-tailed Bee-eater breeds in southeastern Asia. It is strongly migratory, richly coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green; its face has a narrow blue patch with a black eye stripe, and a yellow and brown throat; the tail is blue and the beak is black. It can reach a length of 23–26 cm, including the two elongated central tail feathers.

This bird breeds in farmlands, parks or rice fields etc. Blue-tailed Bee-eater is seen near large water-bodies. It eats insects, bees, wasps and hornets; caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. These bee-eaters nest colonially in sandy banks or open flat areas. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 5 to 7 white eggs are laid.