Dollarbird captures a Carpenter Bee

The above image by Basil Chia shows a Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) with a carpenter bee (Xylocopa sp.) clamped between its mandibles. An earlier post can be viewed HERE.

Dollarbirds usually hunt from a high point, making aerial captures when flying insects pass by. Wells (1999) mentions cicadas, mantids, orthopterans, ants and alate termite as their food. Fry (2001) gives a longer list that includes beetles, mantids, crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, shield-bugs, sawflies, moths, ants, termites, honeybees (Apis) and an occasional lizard. However, there are no mention of carpenter bees.

Basil Chia
Singapore
22nd December 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.