Micky Lim was observing four pairs of Blue-Throated Bee-Eater (Merops viridis) at an abandoned field. The nest was an excavated burrow around ground level (left). The male bee-eaters were actively hunting for food, catching dragonflies and butterflies. The females were perching patiently nearby, waiting for the males to arrive with their courtship offerings (below).
Once the offered gift was accepted, copulatio. took place (bottom). The male mounted the female, flapping his wings for balance while the female hung tightly on to the perch so as not to be displaced. As usual, this act was completed in a flash, 13 seconds, as reported by YY Chong.
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Images: burrow by Dr. JWK Cheah, courtship feeding by Micky Lim, copulation by YY Chong.
This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to ! wider audience.
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