[4][5] This species has a large sickle shaped bill and the square ended tail lacks the "wires" that are typical of smaller bee-eaters.

John Atherton (13th Light Dragoons, died in 1827) a nephew of Mrs. P. J. Selby who obtained a specimen of the bird.

[8] Jardine and Selby described it in the Illustrations of Ornithology (Series 1, Volume 2 part 4, November 1828, plate 58) and the type locality (holotype is in the Selby Collection, UMZC, 25/Mer/7/b/2) was said to be Cachar District Assam by E. C. Stuart Baker[9] but Sir N B Kinnear re-designated Bangalore as the type locality for the species based on the fact that Atherton was posted in Bangalore when he wrote to Selby and noted that he was helped by a French collector (thought to be Leschenault).

[13] The nominate form is found in India and parts of mainland Southeast Asia while brevicaudatus is an insular population from Hainan.

A subspecies bartletti from northeastern India, described by W. N. Koelz, is usually considered part of the nominate population.

Thin to fairly thick forest in medium elevations with clearings is the typical habitat.

Pairs may engage in duets of cackling and rattling which ends in short purring notes.

[20] The breeding season is February to August in India and courtship involves ritual feeding, bowing and tail fanning.