India's Bee-Eaters: Dazzling Aerial Hunters with Remarkable Insect-Catching Skills
In the serene evenings across India, small parties of green bee-eaters can be seen skating high above palm trees, their musical trills filling the air as they swirl and wheel with evident enjoyment. These dazzling birds, with their sharp pincer-like bills, are master aerial hunters, showcasing amazing insect-catching skills that leave observers in awe. Recently, while watching from a balcony, I spotted two bee-eaters using an iron plant stand as a lookout perch, launching sallies to snap up unfortunate insects. To my delight, one was the standard issue small green bee-eater, while the other was a lovely chestnut-headed bee-eater, its sulfur yellow and rich burnt orange contrasting beautifully with the bronze green of its wings and breast.
The Colorful Family of Bee-Eaters in India
Both species sport the wicked black Mask of Zorro across their eyes, a trademark of five out of the six bee-eater species found in India, out of 22 worldwide. The small green bee-eater is a snazzy little bird in its own right: slim and svelte in grass green, with tints of reddish brown on its head and neck, and central pin feathers sticking out like antennae. Its larger cousins, the blue-tailed and blue-cheeked bee-eaters, add flame blue on the rump and tail or gorgeous powder blue cheeks, respectively, with deeper contralto calls compared to the small green's treble. This colorful and charismatic family makes an ideal introduction for newbie birders, offering a vibrant entry into the world of ornithology.
Astonishing Hunting Techniques and Diet
True to their name, bee-eaters do catch bees, along with wasps and dragonflies, in a display of astonishing skill. At Carambolim lake, I observed chestnut-headed bee-eaters at work, launching high, corkscrewing sallies after dragonflies from up to 30 metres away. This requires them to anticipate where the insect will be upon interception or change direction in a trice if it dodges. Their sharp, thin bills act like pincers, snapping up insects from behind or head-on. Blue-tailed bee-eaters have been recorded intercepting victims from 100 metres away. Once caught, the insect is taken to a post, bashed to death, and then rubbed against a branch to squeeze out the poison sac before consumption—a procedure learned during youth.
More than 90 percent of their daily diet of 225-300 victims may consist of bees and wasps, providing a nutritious meal rich in sweet nectar and protein from pollen. While apiarists may not appreciate them, bee-eaters do not raid hives; instead, they wait in flowery meadows for bees to arrive, showcasing their patient hunting strategies.
Social Structures and Nesting Habits
Most bee-eater species are social birds, often found in colonies of up to 500 individuals, huddled together on transmission wires or branches without concern for private space. They nest in burrows dug five feet deep in sandy cliff faces or the ground, timing their breeding to avoid the rainy season when floods could wash away their homes. Up to five round white eggs may be laid per nest. Interestingly, species like the red-throated and white-throated bee-eaters exhibit complex social structures, with colonies divided into clans containing pairs and bachelor helpers who assist with housework and chick-rearing. Social dynamics include extra-pair mating and egg-dumping, though some pairs remain faithful for multiple seasons, revealing intricate behaviors even in common species.
Daily Life and Conservation Concerns
Bee-eaters spend at least 10 percent of their day engaging in dust or water bathing, sunbathing to warm up and rid themselves of parasites. This bonding activity often sees them adopting the same postures, akin to the saying hamam may sabh nange hote hain. While some species are migratory, others are resident, moving based on food availability. They face predation from raptors like the African fishing eagle and threats from rodents and snakes to their burrows. Currently, bee-eaters are not endangered, but with global declines in bee and insect populations, their future remains uncertain. Observing these elfin birds in open country, fields, parks, and along water bodies never fails to delight, offering a glimpse into their sprightly spirit and pixie-like ways.
