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Can you imagine eating a bee? While this thought may sound strange, it is not uncommon in some indigenous communities around the world. In particular, these people target honeybees without stings and bees still in the larval stage. However, some groups will also target wasps and other types of bees. Meanwhile, the consumption of bees is more common in the animal kingdom, especially among some species of birds. There are several birds that eat bees, including blackbirds, royal birds, swifts, mockingbirds, and woodpeckers. Woodpeckers are especially fond of hunting for larvae of carpenter bees and leaf-cutting bees. However, most of these species are only opportunistic bee-eaters. On the other hand, some birds specialize in hunting bees and make them part of their regular diet. Here are some of those unique birds that bees regularly eat.
# 5: Honey Buzzard
The honey buzzard is a large bird belonging to the family of hawks, eagles, kites and vultures of the Accipitridae family. Scientists recognize several different types of melliferous plants, including European, crested or oriental melliferous plants. It is also called pern or common pern, depending on the region in which it lives. Despite its name, it has more in common with kites than buzzards. Buteo genus. The European honey buzzard is common throughout Central and Northern Europe and Eurasia, and winters in sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, the breeding area of the crested buzzard stretches from China to Japan, and it winters in Southeast Asia. Quite a large bird, most individuals are usually 20 to 24 inches long and have a wingspan of 53 to 59 inches. They usually have a long tail and a short crest on their head. They usually appear light or dark brown with white markings depending on the species.
Honey buzzards are carnivores that eat a wide variety of prey. Small insects such as cicadas, small rodents, reptiles and birds are common prey. However, it is a specialized feeder and one of the birds that eat bees in large numbers. In particular, they eat the larvae of wasps, hornets and bees. Most of the time he hunts for beehives in the woodlands that he calls his home. When it encounters a hive, it uses its long claws to break the combs and reach the larvae and beeswax inside. Scientists believe their feathers contain a chemical repeller that wards off potential attacking bees. In addition, the feathers on the head and around the eyes are hard and scaly. This adaptation also helps protect them from being bitten by intruders who overcome their chemical deterrent.
# 4: Northern Cardinal
The northern cardinal, also known as the red bird, common cardinal, or simply cardinal, belongs to the Cardinalidae songbird family. This is primarily due to the characteristic bright red color and large ridge that grows on the head of the males. The northern cardinals are distributed from Canada in the north to Guatemala in the south. In the United States, they extend to Maine in the east and Texas and Minnesota in the west. However, introduced populations now also live in some non-native areas, including Hawaii and Bermuda. They mainly live in forests, gardens, bushes and wetlands. Northern male cardinals are a very territorial species, emitting a loud characteristic whistle to let other males know to stay away. Like most songbirds, northern cardinals mate for life. The Migratory Birds Act, which was once a popular pet, now prevents northern cardinals from being traded for sale.
The northern cardinal’s diet is varied and varies with the season. In the summer, they mainly eat insects, including flies, beetles, butterflies, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, snails, and slugs. However, they also like to eat bees, they will attack the hive and eat the adult bees. In particular, they are more likely to target the hive during the breeding season when they need a lot of protein. In winter, their diet is dominated by grains, seeds, fruits and berries. Given their eclectic diet, cardinals often choose the simplest food source available. Therefore, if there is a bee hive nearby, they will hunt it, unless they can access more readily available food sources such as tallow or bird feeders.
# 3: Purple Martin
The purple swallow is the largest swallow in North America and belongs to the family of swallows, martins and saw-winged Hirundinidae. On average, they grow to 7.9 inches in length with a wingspan of up to 16 inches in width. Their breeding range varies, with most purple martins living in the western United States. However, small populations also breed along the Pacific coast, southern Canada and parts of Mexico. In winter, they migrate to South America, mainly from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. They get their name from their distinctive all-black coloration with a unique high-gloss blue sheen. With the right lighting, they can appear blue or purple. Males and females together choose nesting sites and build their nests in the hollows of trees or other buildings. Unfortunately, their numbers are declining due to competition for nesting sites from invasive European starlings.
Purple Martins have a reputation for being agile and acrobatic hunters. They feed by coughing up or catching prey in flight. Favorite food is winged insects such as dragonflies, flies, fire ants and wasps. However, purple martins are also among the most prolific bee-eating birds if they can catch them in large numbers. When coughing up, they quickly flap their wings and create complex gliding patterns to hone their prey. Available evidence suggests that they can also catch prey while diving, further highlighting their hunting prowess.
# 2: Scarlet and Summer Tanager
The scarlet and summer tanagra are medium-sized songbirds native to the Americas. Although they used to belong to the Tanager family, Thraupidae, they now both belong to the cardinal family Cardinalidae. Summer tanagers breed in the central and southern United States and northern Mexico, and winter in South and Central America. Meanwhile, scarlet tanagers are mostly found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, and also winter in South America. They live in deciduous forests as well as woodlands in suburban neighborhoods and parks. Both species are just over 7 inches long with a wingspan of 10 to 12 inches in length. They are very similar in appearance to the northern cardinals, with bright red feathers on their chest and back and darker wings. However, unlike the northern cardinal, they do not have a black face mask.
Although they also eat fruits and berries, scarlet and summer tanagers feed mainly on flying insects. Common insects in their diet include ants, sawflies, moths, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, and cicadas. However, they especially target bees and wasps, which make up the bulk of their diet. Catching a bee in the air, these tanagers will return to the same spot from which they took off. This process of leaving the house, catching food, and taking it back to eat is known as outing. After capturing a bee, wasp or hornet, the summer tanager will rake the insect on the ground to remove its sting.
# 1: bee-eater
Of all the birds that eat bees, the best known for their bee-eating behavior. Bee-eaters belong to the Meropidae family, which includes three different genera and 27 different species. They are common throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia, although they tend to adhere to a more temperate climate. Each species of bee-eaters has a unique bright plumage with long tail feathers and hooked beaks. Bee-eaters build intricate tunnel networks within sandbanks and tend to live in groups of tens or hundreds of members. Males and females mate for life and share parenting responsibilities. In addition, some species are involved in raising children in the community, and the birds look after their relatives in the colony.
As the name suggests, beekeepers’ diets are mainly composed of bees and wasps. On average, bees and wasps make up 70% of their diet, with other flying insects making up the rest. During the hunt, they will wait on the perches until they spot their prey, and then catch the target in the air. Bee-eaters have flawless eyesight, and some species can spot bees up to 330 feet away. Once they catch their prey, they will either eat it during the flight or return to the open. If the bee or wasp is large enough, they will kill it by smashing it on the ground, then rub it to remove the venom pouch and sting.
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