17/06/2026
ត្រដេវកន្ទុយខៀវ
Blue-tailed Bee-eaters
At the beautiful Bengal Florican Grasslands of Cambodia, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus) can often be observed performing one of the most fascinating aspects of their breeding behavior—bringing food to their hungry chicks hidden deep within underground nesting burrows.
These colorful aerial hunters feed their young with a variety of flying insects, depending on what is available and what provides the greatest nutritional value. In these photographs, one parent is carrying a small bee, while another returns with a much larger dragonfly. This demonstrates the remarkable adaptability of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, which carefully select different prey items to meet the growing demands of their chicks. Larger prey such as dragonflies can provide substantial nourishment, while smaller insects like bees are also an important part of their diet.
In Cambodia, the Bengal Florican Grasslands provide excellent habitat for these birds, offering open spaces rich in insect life and suitable sandy soils where they can excavate nesting tunnels. During the breeding season, observing adults repeatedly carrying food to their nest burrows offers a wonderful glimpse into the dedication and hard work involved in raising the next generation.
These images capture not only the beauty of the Blue-tailed Bee-eater but also an intimate moment of parental care, highlighting the important role that Cambodia's remaining grassland habitats play in supporting both resident and migratory bird species.
