The Asian Green Bee-eater (merops orientalis) is a tiny, dazzling gem of a bird, commonly seen in open spaces, gardens, and agricultural fields. It's instantly recognisable by its slender body, vibrant green plumage, golden-rufous crown, and long, pointed central tail feathers, which extend beyond the rest of its tail.
As its name suggests, the Asian Green Bee-eater is an insectivore, specialising in catching flying insects. Its diet primarily consists of bees and wasps, beetles, ants, moths and butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, crickets and grasshoppers, termites.
These birds are primarily "sit-and-wait" predators. They typically perch on low vantage points such as wires, fences, shrubs, or bare branches, scanning the air with their excellent eyesight. Once they spot an insect, they launch into a swift, acrobatic flight to snatch it in mid-air, often returning to the same perch to consume their prey. They are highly agile flyers and are known to spot even small insects from considerable distances.
The timing is amazing, thanks.
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