#merops nubicus

[boiga]

A colony of northern carmine bee-eaters (Merops nubicus) in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

by Miguel Martí

[helluvatimes]

Two Noisy Bee-Eaters

Two of half a dozen Northern Carmine Bee-eaters gathering on a bald tree under a overcast sky in the Bird Paradise. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Despite having biased the exposure 1-2/3 stops brighter, the two bee-eaters had still need to be brightened up in post. This had raised noise level to some 6 odd which was left alone in the birds as I didn’t want to smooth out feather details.

[psikonauti]

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and  Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus)

[namu-the-orca]

Continuing the experiment of Friday, here’s the start of what will hopefully be a steady series. These little paintings, just 10.5 x 15 cm, combine watercolour and black fineliner and are lots of fun to make. I intend to make a new set every week, and all are for sale! Contact me or check out my website if you’d like to own one of these cuties.

For now I went on a major bee-eater spree - they’re just too adorable, and have gorgeous colours. Though I want to paint all sorts of animals, not just birds. What species would you like to see? Let me know!

[helluvatimes]

A Northern Insect Sniper

One of five Northern Carmine Bee-eaters (Merops nubicus) waiting for prey in the Heart of Africa Aviary. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

On the way out, we had come across these five that we had missed in a few previous visits. There actually used to be more than a dozen.

[helluvatimes]

The Insect Snipers

A Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus) showing off a prize catch to its buddy in the Bird Paradise. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

About eight of them were launching from this bald tree, snatching passing insects in the air. It was breakfast time (for the bee-eaters) and the insects didn’t stand a chance, although one managed to escape the beak of a pursuing bird by ducking down quickly into the nearest leafy shrub.

[captious-solarian]

Northern carmine bee-eaters on Arabian bustard in Awash National Park, Ethiopia. Photo by Robert Thibault, 2020.

[birdstudies]

October 6, 2014 - Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus nubicoides)

Requested by: coramatus

These bee-eaters live in tropical grasslands in Southern Africa. They eat flying insects, such as bees, catching them in the air and often beating them against a branch to remove the stingers and venom. Highly social birds, they travel in large flocks and nest in colonies. Their nests are burrows dug into riverbanks. Southern Carmine Bee-eaters may be seen around the edges of fires, catching fleeing insects.