The Red-bearded Bee-eater may have a bright and eye-catching color, but it’s actually quite challenging to spot this bird due to its elusive nature.
The Nyctyornis amictus, also known as the red-bearded bee-eater, belongs to the bee-eater family of birds. They have a striking appearance, with colorful feathers, elongated tails, pointed wings, and downward-curving beaks. These birds are relatively big for bee-eaters and primarily green in color, with red faces that extend down to their throats, making them easily identifiable. Additionally, they have captivating orange eyes.
It’s a common trend in birds that male ones are usually bigger than their female counterparts. For instance, if we take an average of 68-92 g for males, the weight range for females usually falls between 61-70 g. Moreover, when it comes to young birds, they tend to have a greenish hue predominantly.
These avian creatures can only be spotted in specific regions of southern Myanmar (Burma), the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and nearby smaller islands, making them truly one-of-a-kind.
The red-bearded bee-eater has its habitat mostly in primary rainforests, including the rolling plains, foothills, and mountainous regions up to 1,500 meters above sea level. However, it is not limited to these areas and can also thrive in secondary woodlands, flooded forests near swamps and lagoons, as well as large wooded gardens.
Their primary source of food consists of insects, specifically bees, wasps, and hornets that are caught while in flight, typically from a hidden location among the foliage.
Red-bearded Bee-eaters typically breed from August to March by digging a burrow into the side of a sandy bank. They lay around 3-5 eggs, which are cared for by both the male and female for a period of 23-27 days.
The photograph titled “Red-bearded Bee-eater at Kaeng Krachan” taken by Eric Gropp is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Despite the fact that the overall population of this bird is believed to be decreasing, it has been categorized as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
If you want to catch a glimpse of this feathered creature, just check out the footage provided below: