Merops leschenaulti
The Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) is a vibrantly colored insectivorous bird belonging to the family Meropidae, instantly recognizable by its striking plumage. Measuring approximately 17-20 cm in length, including its elongated tail streamers (which can add another 2-3 cm), and weighing between 25-35 grams, this species is a visual marvel. Its most distinctive field mark is the rich chestnut-brown cap extending from the forehead to the nape, contrasting sharply with a broad b...
This bee-eater thrives in open woodlands, clearings, scrubland, riverbanks, and cultivated areas, typically preferring lowland and lower montane regions up to 2000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, their diet consists mainly of bees, wasps, dragonflies, and other flying insects, which they catch deftly in mid-air.
Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters are highly social and diurnal, often seen perching conspicuously on wires or branches before sallying forth to catch prey. Their foraging strategy primarily involves aerial hawking, where they launch from a perch to snatch flying insects, frequently returning to the sam...
The Chestnut-headed Bee-eater has a broad distribution across the Oriental biogeographic realm, primarily resident throughout much of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from India and Sri Lanka eastward through Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos...
Least Concern
- The Chestnut-headed Bee-eater possesses a special technique for neutralizing the venom of its prey: it repeatedly bashes the insect against its perch until the stinger and venom sac are expelled or rendered harmless. - Despite their name, bees and wasps constitute only a portion of their diet; ...