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Blue-throated Bee-eater: 1. Courtship and mating

on 5th July 2009

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.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

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