Fig 1 : Red-bearded Bee-eater (male)
Fig 2 : Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Fig 3 : Blue-tailed Bee-eater (sub-adult)
Fig 4 : Blue-throated Bee-eater
Fig 5 : Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
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Bee-eaters comprise a group of graceful, brightly
coloured, slender bodied, long billed birds in the family Meropidae. They
eat a variety of winged insects including bees, wasps, flying beetles and
dragonflies.
Bee-eaters congregate at high, open perches - particularly dead trees in open
countryside, riverine areas or forest edge. From their vantage point their
sharp eyes can easily spot insect prey, which is always caught on the wing.
Southeast Asia's bee-eaters typically nest in burrows excavated in sandy
cliff faces, or in bare ground, but have also been observed nesting in
man-made, abandoned piles of sandy soil. The Red-bearded Bee-eater
Nyctornis amictus, is known to nest in termite mounds.
Bee-eaters reach their greatest diversity in Africa, however eight species
of bee-eater occur within Southeast Asia either as residents or migrants.
Fig 1 : Red-bearded Bee-eater (male)
Nyctyornis amictus
Habitat : Lower montane primary forest.
Notes : Elevation of 1050 metres.
Fig 2 : Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Merops philippinus
Habitat : Wooded parkland
Notes : Seen hawking for insects in the late afternoon sun.
Fig 3 : Blue-tailed Bee-eater
(sub-adult)
Merops philippinus
Habitat : At margin of freshwater lake
Notes : Perching on a dead tree.
Fig 4 : Blue-throated Bee-eater
Merops viridis
Habitat : Sandy grassland and scrub
Notes : Two adults in argumentative mood.
Fig 5 : Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Merops leschenaulti
Habitat : Sandy grassland and scrub
Notes : Adult and juvenile at the
entrance to their burrow. |
