Do Birds Eat Bees?
Do birds eat bees? Yes, sometimes they do. However, most birds prefer seeds and fruits etc. This still leaves over 6,000 species of birds that are true insectivores (birds that eat bees) and other insects as the mainstay of their food source. The good news for us beekeepers (and bee lovers) is that birds are rarely a serious threat to healthy honey bee colonies. Let’s learn which birds are bee eaters and why they do it!
Before you get too worried about your neighborhood bees or hives, keep in mind that there are many honey bee predators out there looking for a tasty bee snack.
Common Birds that are Known to Eat Bees
The most adapt bee-eaters belong to the bird family Meropidae. Within this family more than 22 species of birds are known to be consumers of bees.
Thankfully, most of these birds live in Africa and not in high beekeeping areas. For other birds, bees are just one part of a larger diet and are not the primary food source.
Here are a few of the birds most commonly associated with bee eating. Most are highly skilled aerial hunters. They would have to be in order to snatch flying insects.
European Bee-eater
In any conversation about bee-eating birds, we can not ignore one that actually has word in its name “bee-eater”. These birds belong to the family Meropidae and there are over 27 different species.
Found mostly in Asia, Europe and Australia, they are beautiful birds with brightly colored feathers and hooked bills.They live in large groups that can number in the hundreds.
Bees and wasps make up 70% of their diet. Capable of capturing the insect in flight using their impressive eyesight- they can spot a bee in flight over 300 ft away.
Greater Honeyguide
Honeyguides are birds in the family (Indicatoridae). A resident of sub-saharan Africa, this bird gets its name from the tendency to guide humans to honey bee nests. There are several different varieties.
The honeyguide exists primarily on the contents of a bee colony. They eat the brood (or bee larvae) and the beeswax.
In fact, they are one of the few birds that feeds on beeswax. These birds also feed on wax moths found in the hive.
Honey Buzzards
A large bird that looks much like the native hawks in my region, the honey buzzard is fierce. Also called a “pern”, it lives in parts of the UK during Summer – wintering in Africa.
The honey buzzard is a carnivore and eats many different types of bees, wasps, hornets, rodents and other birds. But, adult bees are not the main target of this specialized bird.
Instead, it is the bee’s brood inside the nest that the honey buzzard desires. They have special feathering that helps protect their faces from attack as they dig in the hive for food.
Purple Martins
Known and appreciated for their insect catching abilities. Purple martins eat many types of insects. Bees, wasps, flies, dragonflies and even fire ants (if only we could train them to dig)!
Purple martins are found in many regions of the US. A member of the family of martins, swallows and saw-wings -their glossy black blue feathers give them their name. Their plumage looks purple in some types of light.
They commonly nest in colonies with many nests close together. Seeing martin colonies with gourds as nesting units is common in my area.
They are known to be agile hunters that perform impressive acrobatics in air. Dining on flies, dragon flies, and wasps, they will also eat bees in great quantities if the opportunity is there.
Summer and Scarlet Tanagers
Summer Tanagers and Scarlet Tanagers are medium-sized songbirds native to the Americas. They are small bright colored birds that look similar to northern cardinals.
Like most other birds in this family, they have a varied diet of ants, moths, beetles, flies and grasshoppers. However, they especially target wasps and bees.
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Occasional Bee Consuming Birds
Not every member of the bird family is a voracious eater of bees. Some birds do consume them if the opportunity arrives-but do not necessarily seek out bees.
Kingbirds
Eastern Kingbirds are sturdy birds that often harass anything else that flies into their territory – even much larger counterparts such as hawks.
Often called “flycatchers” they enjoy dining on insects. If they can catch a fly – a bee certainly poses no problem.
However, they do eat other insects and even small frogs. Their diet consists of various types of fruit but they do eat insects and even small frogs.
Northern Cardinal
The common cardinal or redbird is a well-known songbird-beloved by all. Dining on flies, beetles, worms, snails, grains and seed, it is said they may eat adult honey bees near the hive.
However, they pursue the easiest food source available and are not a major danger to beehives if other food sources can be found. I have never seen my cardinals bother the hives.
Woodpeckers
Members of the woodpecker family come in all sizes. Their diet consists of various insects including ants, termites, grubs, carpenter bee larvae and yes on occasion honey bees.
In some regions of the world, they can be a problem for out-apiaries that are secluded in wooded areas away from homes.
It seems that the woodpecker only cause a problem for beehive in times of desperation when natural food is not available. This is a natural response to any living thing trying to survive.
Why This Matters for Beekeepers
Even though birds can eat bees, they rarely post a serious threat to beekeepers. The number of bees taken is often small compared to the numbers in the hive.
In a healthy ecosystem, birds and bees usually coexist without significant problems. Though you might feel differently if you are trying to keep bees away from your hummingbird feeders!
FAQs
The impact of birds on local bee populations are often minimal. Healthy colonies should not be at risk.
Birds do not get stung by bees because the action takes place so quickly and the insect is stunned before being swallowed.
Yes – most of the birds that eat bees will eat wasp, hornets and similar insects too!
Final Thoughts
Losing a few bees to the diet of local birds is rarely cause for concern. These birds also eat pest insects that affect home gardens and agricultural crops. In nature, we must take the good with the bad.
I have beekeeping 11+ years and a member and presenter/manager of our club hives as well as my own. Many newer or less accomplished at this art have not thrown themselves into all the unique features of a bees life cycle and the varied ways of raising bees without going broke.
We teach for local schools and events.
I would enjoy learning more about your experiences as a master beekeeper. Also, I would like to invite u to our honeyfestival in Lithopolis Ohio this September 6&7th. I am in charge of the extraction/ educational building again this year. Very family friendly event with quality music and a bee train ride for children.
Sincerely, Bill K
That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much. How lucky your community is to have bee enthusiasts at work.
when a number of birds consume bees to the extent that the colonies do not increase in size- I begrudge the birds their tasty meal. how can birds be discouraged? what works, short of a shotgun?
I agree that I too would be unhappy. I would consider some of the tactics that gardeners use to discourage birds near the apiary. Plastic owls, wind streamers etc.
Charlotte, we have several colonies of purple Martins living on our farm in NC and plan to start an apiary with 50+ colonies. Are martins destructive enough that we should remove the Martin houses and discourage them from coming back?
Well, that’s a tough one. The martins may in fact eat some bees. I have been told that martins and bees can exist in peace. They do not “tend” to focus on honey bees.