MALAYSIAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters (Merops leschenaulti), unlike the Blue-tailed and Blue-throated cousins are endemic within the Malaysian State of Penang. They are a resident breeder in the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining regions ranging from India east to South East Asia, including Thailand, Northern Malaysia and Indonesia. This species is not found in Southern Malaysia or Singapore but like other bee-eaters is a beautiful, richly colored, sleek bird and a master flyer. It is predominantly green, with blue on the rump and lower belly. Its face and throat are yellow with a black eye stripe. The crown and nape are a rich chestnut. Newly fledged chicks are the same colors except for a mainly darker green forehead and less distinct demarcation between the colors. The species is 18-20 cm long and it lacks the two elongated central tail feathers possessed by the majority of bee-eater species. There are several subspecies that display variations of the color pattern. The male and females have...

Blue-throated Bee-eater pair (male on the left) One of my best images some years ago was of a Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) with a dragonfly in it’s bill. I developed a love for these birds and the other members of the Bee-eater family. They are magnificent fliers and hunters, are elegant and with a nice blend of colors. Late last year I took up residence upon retirement on Penang island with more time to pursue my photographic passion. As soon as the Bee-eaters arrived to nest I was in my element. First it was the Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, which will be the subject of a separate article. The Blue-throated Bee-eaters suddenly appeared in a flock of about 12-15 in mid February. There were not many Chestnut-headed Bee-eater nesting, possibly about 12-15 nests so there was no major territorial disputes. Male and female Blue-throated Bee-eaters look the same and only when they are adjacent can differences be seen; the male (left, below) is slightly bigger, has long...