Additional details on Food and Feeding: |
Bhutan: Birds were observed feeding on old Rock Bee (Apis dorsata) nests, grabbing parts of the hive with the claws in flight (Spierenburg 2005).
Philippines: Bee nests are obtained from tree hollows or suspended from trees (Kennedy et al. 2000).
Malay Peninsula: The only feeding records are of raids on exposed arboreal bee nests (Wells 1999), including one by a bird at a large nest of the highly venomous tiger hornets (Vespa affinis) near the top of a roadside tree at Fraser's Hill. The bird ripped into the nest with its beak and was immediately attacked by the hornets, which swarmed over its head, including it eyes. After 30 seconds, the bird retreated, shaking insects into the air as it flew. It returned 10 minutes later (at which stage the observers withdrew). Two hours later, only a few hornets remained, and the nest had been broken completely through.
Sabah: Feeds on bees, wasps, their larvae, and honey and wax (Sheldon et al. 2001) and also takes snakes and fruit, according to Smythies (1963).
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