Madagascar bee eater

Introduction: Madagascar bee-eaters (Merops superciliosus) inhabit open riverine woodland, coastal plains with mangroves and wooded swamps, never far from water. They can be observed regularly in flocks of up to 20 birds, usually perching high up in the smallest of outer tree branches.

Distribution: Concentrations can be observed in north-west Namibia along the Kunene River Valley south to Damaraland, in particular around Hobatere.

Diet: Bees and wasps are beaten before swallowing. They are rubbed against the perch, backwards and forwards to discharge sting and venom, a sequence that takes no more than 10 seconds. Dragonflies, ants, cicadas, bugs, grasshoppers and locusts, beetles, moths and butterflies are also taken.

Description: Supercilious is Latin for having an eyebrow or eye strip, a feature of this bird. They are often confused with the blue-cheeked bee-eater because of the similarity in facial colourings.

Breeding: Females lay around 4 white eggs between September and December, incubated by both sexes.

Size: 26cm. Tail streamers project a further 60mm.

Weight: 45g.