Do Birds Eat Bees? What You Need to Know!

Last Updated on Jan 23 2023

Birds are interesting animals that come in all kinds of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are well-known for eating grasses, seeds, and berries during their travels. However, did you know that some birds will eat bees to get the nutrition that they need for survival? While bees are not a required food for birds, they can offer vitamins and minerals to help round out their nutritional intake when other food sources are scarce. Here is what else you should know about this topic.

What Kinds of Bees Do Birds Eat?

Some birds will eat any type of bee that they come across. However, honeybees and bees still in the larval stage tend to be the most popular because they don’t have stingers and are easier to hunt down than other types of bees. But when it comes down to it, if a bird has a chance to snatch up a bee and consume it, they will do so. Some types of birds are better known for eating bees than others.

What Kinds of Birds Eat Bees?

Most birds eat bees when the opportunity presents itself, but some bird breeds make it a point to hunt down bees as a food source. Birds that seek bees out tend to eat them on a regular basis, so they don’t need to seek out insects and other types of food as often. Here are a few bird breeds that make bees a regular staple in their diet:

In addition to eating bees, these birds are known for eating ants, moths, flies, dragonflies, beetles, and grasshoppers. Some also eat berries and seeds when they can be found. Depending on the time of year and exact location, these foods may or may not make up a significant amount of the nutrition that these birds get.

Related Read: Do Birds Eat Cicadas? What You Need To Know!

How Do Birds Catch and Eat Bees?

It requires agility to catch and eat a bee because bees don’t fly in one straight line, and they are extremely quick. A bird must either stalk a bee and attack from above by diving onto the bee, or they must glide in the air to catch a bee in mid-flight by correctly determining the bee’s speed and angle. Once a bird gets a hold of a bee, the battle is over quickly, as bees are no match for a bird’s beak.

Conclusion

Although birds do eat bees, it is not a common occurrence for most species. However, some birds seem to have been born to hunt bees and similar insects, like flies. It is a part of keeping ecosystems healthy throughout the world. The earth needs bees to thrive, but overpopulation of them could be dangerous for other animals and humans alike.

Featured Image Credit: Voodison328, Shutterstock