The Star, Malaysia : Bee-eaters : Aerial predators

Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Bee-eaters : Aerial predators

Story and pictures by DR CHAN AH LAK

The chestnut-headed bee-eater thrives in India, southern China and South-East Asia. In Peninsular Malaysia, it is a resident of the nothern states, although stragglers are sometimes seen in Selangor. They travel in small groups and prefer lightly-wooded country, particularly tin mine areas. They breed in nesting holes made in sandbanks.

ONE of the common birds seen perched on overhead wires and on top of dead trees in open country is the bee-eater. This colourful bird feeds on bees and other insects taken on the wing, doing repeated sallies from the same perch.

Of the 24 species of bee-eaters in the world, four are found in Malaysia. Three species belong to the Merops genus: the blue-tailed bee-eater (M. philippinus), the blue-throated bee-eater (M. viridis) and the chestnut-headed bee-eater (M. leschenaulti). The odd one out is from the Nyctyornis genus, the red-bearded bee-eater (N. amictus), a forest dweller.

Watching these energetic birds when they feed is highly entertaining. From a high perch either on a tree branch, telephone wire or even a television antennae, they would scout for suitable prey. Being skilled and specialised predators of bees and other winged insects, they make aerial loops and acrobatic stunts as they take their prey in mid-air. Small insects are brought back to the perch and swallowed whole. Larger insects are killed by being smashed on the perch before they are swallowed.

The three Merops bee-eaters are slim built and prefer open country such as rice fields, tin mines, forest edge and mangroves. There is no difference in the sexes. Now how do we tell these species apart? Well, bird-watchers are very down-to-earth people – if the bee-eater has a blue coloured throat, it is called the blue-throated bee-eater and so on.