This is the largest
of the world's bee-eaters. It has been suggested that the blue-colored "beard" attracts bees mistaking
it for a flower. Evidently these birds employ a lying-in-wait hunting strategy. Unlike other bee-eaters which pursue
prey actively, this individual sat quietly high in the upper canopy where it remained almost motionless.There are two Bee-eaters in the genus Nyctyornis. This one ranges from India to SE Asia. The Red-bearded Bee-eater replaces it to the south. Both are forest dwellers, and both have loose, shaggy feathers on the throat and breast which give an unkempt bearded effect. They are generally considered basal to the rest of the bee-eater radiation and closer to the kingfishers.
This is the widespread mainland nominate race. A smaller, darker race has been described from Hainan.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA |hand-held (no adapter).