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BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER FEEDING (PART 2)

YC Wee
on 12th February 2016


1
“On the warm afternoon of 8th December 2015, a Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) arrived at its perch with a chunky bee between its beak (above, below). This freshly captured prey was a male Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa aestuans).

“With swift and skillful manipulation of the bee, it was soon swallowed whole, head-first (below). This is probably equivalent to a person trying to swallow an ‘Old Chang Kee’ curry puff in its entirety.

Yet another airborne insect was also successfully subdued. This time, it was a Common Flangetail (Ictinogomphus decoratus) dragonfly (below).

“After some preliminary bashing, the Bee-eater decided to relocate to a more conducive perch to finish off its meal (below).

“Video clips of the Bee-eater processing its insect prey may be previewed here:”

Dr. Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
22nd January 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

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