On 8 June 2023, a single Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) was observed and photographed in wooded peat swamp forest in the central region of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The bird was perched in a sparsely wooded area along the forest margin during cool, cloudy conditions with intermittent rain. It remained in the area for approximately five minutes while actively foraging and was photographed capturing insect prey. The observation concluded when the observer departed the site. Subsequent efforts to relocate the individual two days later were unsuccessful.

Identification was based on visible diagnostic features, including a distinct black eye-stripe, warm brown crown and nape, golden-buff throat, and green to blue-green underparts and upperparts. The bill was black, moderately long, and slightly decurved. These features are consistent with published descriptions of Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) in regional field guides (Robson, 2011; Phillipps & Phillipps, 2014). The absence of a blue throat distinguishes it from Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis), a resident species in Borneo. Identification was subsequently confirmed independently via iNaturalist by Tan Kok Hui, Simon Arns, Dr Ng JJ, and Hobart Wong, and separately verified by Dr Yong Ding Li.

Rainbow Bee-eater is a migratory species that breeds in Australia and is known to disperse northwards during the non-breeding season, occasionally appearing as a vagrant in parts of Wallacea and Sundaland. It is not considered a resident species in Borneo. At the time of documentation, this record appears to represent the first confirmed photographic record of the species in Sarawak on publicly accessible biodiversity databases, including eBird and iNaturalist. This observation contributes to the understanding of the species’ vagrancy and distribution in the region.

Figure 1. Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) photographed in Central Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, on 8 June 2023. (a) Side view showing the distinct black eye-stripe and bill shape. (b) Frontal view showing the throat and underparts. (c) Individual with insect prey, illustrating foraging behaviour.

References

Phillipps, Q. & Phillipps, K. (2014). Phillipps’ Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo. John Beaufoy Publishing.

Robson, C. (2011). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.