People sometimes ask me about dead bees that they see near bird houses. This makes them wonder if birds eat bees.
In fact, some birds will eat bees even though most species of female bees have a stinger to protect themselves. Indeed, some bird species are famous for it!.
Bees play an essential role as pollinators in ecosystems around the world. Their interactions with flowers allow plants to reproduce and thrive. But bees also face threats from predators, including some species of birds that have adapted to eat bees as part of their diet. In this article, we’ll explore which birds consume bees, how they catch their prey, and the potential impacts on bee populations.
An Overview of Birds That Prey on Bees
While not all birds eat bees, there are a number notable species that actively hunt them for food. These birds have evolved specialized skills and behaviors that allow them to evade bee stings and consume both adult bees and bee larvae
Some common examples of birds known to eat bees include:
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Bee-eaters – As their name suggests, bee-eaters are dedicated hunters of bees and other flying insects. There are over 25 species of bee-eaters found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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Tanagers – Both scarlet and summer tanagers are accustomed to preying on bees Their bright red and yellow plumage makes them easy to identify
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Honey buzzards – Found in Europe and Asia, these birds of prey got their misleading name from targeting bee larvae.
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Purple martins – These aerial acrobats deftly pluck bees and other insects from the air.
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Woodpeckers – While not a primary food source, woodpeckers will drill into hives for bee larvae.
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Orioles – When fruit is scarce, orioles supplement their diet by snacking on bees.
Hunting Adaptations Used by Birds to Catch Bees
To safely capture and consume bees, predatory birds rely on specialized adaptations. This includes physical features tailored for bee hunting as well as learned skills.
Pointed beaks – Many bee-eating birds have elongated, spear-like beaks perfect for impaling these insects in midair. The beaks also help remove stingers.
Swift reflexes – Quick reaction times give birds the ability to catch bees on the wing. Purple martins can snatch nearly 500 bees per hour.
Aerial agility – Maneuverability in flight lets bird chase down bee targets, changing directions rapidly. Bee-eaters exhibit acrobatic grace when pursuing prey.
Sharp eyesight – Excellent vision aids birds in tracking bees across long distances. Spotting hives from afar helps target food sources.
Beehive raiding – Some birds like honey buzzards have become experts in destroying hives to access bee larvae. Woodpeckers also target hives.
Clever food handling – Certain tanagers pluck stingers by rubbing bees on branches before eating them. Removing stingers minimizes harm.
The Role of Bees in Bird Diets
For specialized bee predators, bees can make up the bulk of their nutrition. More opportunistic bee-eaters only occasionally snack on these insects. Let’s look at some examples of dietary preferences:
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Bee-eaters derive up to 85% of their food from catching bees and wasps. They occasionally eat other flying insects.
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Scarlet tanagers get 60-80% of their calories from bees and wasps. They also eat beetles, ants, moths, and more.
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Honey buzzards predominantly consume bee and wasp larvae, sometimes eating up to 200 per day. They also eat other insects.
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Purple martins vary their diet but eat lots of flying insects including bees, especially in spring and summer.
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Orioles are opportunistic foragers that eat more bees during times of scarcity but prefer fruits and nectar.
Concerns Over the Impact of Bee Predation
The feeding habits of bee predators spark questions around whether they could threaten bee populations that are already in decline from factors like habitat loss and disease. However, research suggests bee-eating birds play a limited role.
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One study found no correlation between the presence of bee-eaters and local bee population numbers.
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Bee colonies exhibit defenses like swarming and stinging which protect against bird predation.
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Most bee-eating birds are specialized hunters focused on individual insects, not destroying hives.
Still, some beekeepers use preventive measures against birds like netting hives or placing them in discreet locations. Offering bird feeders provides alternative food sources. Overall, birds that eat bees occupy an important niche in nature despite their controversial reputation. Their specialized diets and skills offer a unique glimpse into the diversity of predator-prey relationships.
Which Birds Eat Bees?
Some birds will eat one or two bees as part of their normal bug diet or to feed their young.
Here are 6 types of bird known to eat bees.
Nuthatches (Sitta europaea)
Adult nuthatches feed on insects, hazel nuts, acorns, beechmast and other nuts and seeds. They feed insects to their young. The natural habitat of nuthatches is mixed deciduous woodland. They use their bills to dig into tree bark and look for bugs, either adults or young ones.
Occasionally they have been seen to take insect prey on the wing. Whilst nuthatches will take bees, in reality, they pose little threat. Their primary food sources are flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, bugs and spiders.
One six-year study1 found that only 2. 4% of the insects that were fed to nestlings by nutsuckles were in the Hymenoptera order, which includes ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies.
In this small group, sawflies made up most of the members, while honey bees were only seen three times.
Do birds eat bees?
FAQ
Do birds get stung by bees?
Do birds eat wasps?
Are birds and bees enemies?
Are birds afraid of bees?
What birds eat bees?
It can be found in various habitats, from grasslands to forests. North America hosts several species of birds known to consume bees, although not all are as specialized in bee-eating as the Meropidae family birds. Some examples of these birds include the Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Wrens, Purple Martins, and Summer Tanagers.
Who should not consume beets?
Eating beets is normally safe. Although, in patients suffering from low blood pressure, they can lower the blood pressure even more. Also, people suffering from kidney stones problems, should not include beetroot in their diet, as they contain high amounts of oxalate. Diabetic patients should also limit beets, as they have a high glycemic index, which increases blood sugar levels in the body.
Why do birds eat bees?
Birds that eat bees have specially adapted beaks for catching and handling their prey. For example, bee-eaters have long, pointed bills that are effective in catching insects mid-air source. These specialized beaks also allow birds like orioles to grasp bees securely while they remove the stingers before consuming them.
Can a small bird eat a few bees?
However, a small bird eating a few dozen or even a few hundred bees won’t endanger the colony or honey production. We lose bees for many other reasons, from pesticide sprays to traffic, much more than small predatory birds. Thus, the most threatening “animal” for the bees seems to be the human one.
Do birds eat dead bees?
Yes, some birds consume dead bees from the ground. This behavior can be beneficial for bee colonies as it helps to remove dead bees and prevents other predators like hornets and yellow jackets from being attracted to the hive. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Can a bird eat a bee hive?
For the same reason, beehives may periodically attract individual insectivorous birds. No beekeeper wants to see his bees eaten by a bird. However, a small bird eating a few dozen or even a few hundred bees won’t endanger the colony or honey production.