In 2015, Kinmen National Park commissioned Professor Yuan Hsiao-Wei of School of Forestry and Resources Conservation, NTU to conduct an ecological study on blue-tailed bee-eaters’ (Merops philippinus) migration. On June 22nd, the researchers found a new species with a different color. After an examination, it was confirmed to be the blue-throated bee-eater (Merops viridis) in the same Meropidae family as blue-tailed bee-eaters.

The blue-throated bee-eater is a migratory bird. In Spring, they usually migrate to Yunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian of China to breed. In winter, they fly south to warm places. They can only be spotted year round in a few regions such as from the south of the Indo-China Peninsula to Sumatra, Java, and the Philippines. The blue-throated bee-eater has two subspecies. The one found in Kinmen is M. V. viridis, which is dark brown from its top of the head to the neck and back, and light blue green on the throat and abdomen. The other is M. V. americanus, which is light green on the throat. According to Professor Yuan, studies done by Thai researchers indicate that sometimes a few blue-throated bee-eaters fly north along with blue-tailed bee-eaters. She assumes that this is a similar situation.