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Blue-cheeked Bee-eaterSize: 30 cm; wing span 48 cm (average) |
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Similar species |
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Blue-cheeked
Bee-eater
at Wikipedia 
.
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Sightings |
We have spotted Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters on the campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, in August-October 2009. They usually come in packs of about 10 birds, while their smaller cousins, the Little Green Bee-eaters, come in pairs or as singles.
After a prolonged absence during the winter months, seen by us in the region again in May 2010.
The photos presented below taken in May 2010 were obtained at Sun Farms, Sohar (Batinah region). Special permission to enter the premises for bird photography is hereby most gratefully acknowledged.
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Photos |
Frontal view of a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Close-up lateral view of a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Slightly different posture
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater landing on a power line
Here the same adult Blue-cheeked Bee-eater as above (right), now with
its offspring
Lunchtime for the young Blue-cheeked Bee-eater on the right
Here a view of the backs of both Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters
Direct comparison of the relative sizes of a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
(above) and a Green
Bee-eater (below)
Lateral view of an immature bird (note the absence of streamers)
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Behaviour |
After catching an insect, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters will sit on a perch, turn their head to a side and then flip around in a sideways downward movement, smashing the insect against the branch that they are sitting on to kill it before devouring it.
Seen by us to hunt under water (see photos below). Although they arrive in a pack, they hunt individually.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater diving into a pond in a swoop similar to a
Gannet's; undesired side-effect: the focus of this shot is on the
reflection on the water's surface
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater emerging from water after a short dive
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Food, Diet |
As their name already indicates (and like another member of the Merops family, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters feed on bees, but also other insects such as e.g. dragonflies. They catch their prey in flight, then take it to their perch where it is killed with a head flick smashing it against the branch.
