Dollarbird caught a Carpenter Bee

Lian Yee Ming documented a Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) with a Black and Yellow Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa aestuans) between its mandibles (below).

Dollarbirds eat mostly insects. They indulge in aerial capture of free-flying insects made from a high perch. According to Wells (1999), the feed on cicadas, mantids, ants and grasshoppers, among others. In addition to these, they also take beetles, crickets, shield-bugs, sawflies, termites, honeybees and lizards (Fry, 2001). There are no mentions of carpenter bees by these authors.

Lian Yee Ming
Singapore
5th July 2017

References:
1. Fry, C.H., 2001. Family Coraciidae (Rollers). In: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 6. Mousebirds to Hornbills. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 342-377.
2. Wells, D.R., 1999. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. I, Non-passerines. Academic Press, London. 648 pp.

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.