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Swallow-tailed Bee-eater - Like Mom
An adult Swallow-tailed Bee-eater mom (sitting on the left as you view the picture) with her rather large chick, nearly in full adult plumage. Theses gorgeous birds are striking to say the least, like all other Bee-eater species out there. Quick and nimble, they will catch their prey (insects, bugs, flies etc. ) while in flight. Sometimes one can hear a loud crack when these birds hunt for food ... a trick used to concuss their prey while in flight (I would assume they do this using or flapping their wings in a different manner for a split second, creating a cracking sound).
This specific mother Bee-eater was catching bugs and returning to feed her chick with it. The youngster leisurely sat and waited for his food to be delivered ... all the while learning from his pro mom.
The swallow-tailed bee-eater is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family ''Meropidae''. It breeds in savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It is partially migratory, moving in response to rainfall patterns.
This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. Its colours and readily visible forked tail make this species unmistakable. It is mainly green with a yellow throat, blue gorget and black eye stripe and beak. It can reach a length of 20–22 cm,.. more
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