Swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) perched on a branch. This bird is named because of its preference for eating wasps, bees and hornets. Wh

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Swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) perched on a branch. This bird is named because of its preference for eating wasps, bees and hornets. When it catches one of these insects, it beats it repeatedly against a hard surface until the sting is no longer working. Even when it catches non-venomous prey it will perform this behaviour, before swallowing the insect head first. The breeding populations of this bird in southern Africa are believed to have originated from over-wintering migrant visitors from Europe. Photographed in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, in southern Africa.

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Size: 3114px × 4518px
Photo credit: © TONY CAMACHO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: africa, african, animal, bee-eater, bird, branch, hirundineus, insectivore, insectivorous, merops, nature, perch, perched, perching, south, swallow-tailed, twig, wildlife, zoology