Abstract
The breeding biology of Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis was studied in Nagapattinam District of Mannampandal, Tamil Nadu, India between 2005 and 2006. A total of 34 nests were studied and the bee-eaters were found to excavate long tunnels ranging in length from 79 to 125cm (104.9±123.48 cm) and ending in widened egg chambers. The mean diameter and circumference of the entrance hole opening was 8.94±1.03 cm and 26.9±3.55 cm respectively. They excavated nest holes at a mean height of 52.1±2.69 cm from the bottom and 158.7±4.11 cm from the top of sandy river banks. The clutch size varied from 3 to 6 with a mean of 3.5±0.88 and clutches of three were very common. The egg dimensions ranged between 23.0 x 20.0 mm and 18.0 x 14.0 mm. The weight of the eggs varied between 2.0 and 5.0 g (3.3±0.65 g). The mean incubation period of the Small Bee-eater was 14.4±1.01 days and both sexes took part in the incubation. The Small Bee-eater laid 56 eggs, of which 43 hatched (76.7%) and 36 flewout of the nest, making the fledgingsuccess 83.7%. The newly hatched nestlings were 3.16 g in weight and reached a maximum of 23.16 g on day 24. A reduction in weight was noticed in the last few days and 20.75g was reached on day 27. The other body parts attained maximum maturity from hatching to fledging.
Highlights
Bee-eaters (Aves: Meropidae) are a clade of 26 species with considerable diversity in social and breeding behaviors
In this paper we address some detailed information on nesting season, nest-sites, clutch size, egg morphometry, incubation and nestling growth patterns of the Small Beeeater in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India
The inactive or old nests were identified by a typical hole pattern and undigested insect remains found in the nest hole and egg chamber
Summary
Bee-eaters (Aves: Meropidae) are a clade of 26 species with considerable diversity in social and breeding behaviors. The Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis is the most variable species in the family in regard to plumage color and can be subdivided into 6–8 geographically variable races (Fry 1984). They are common in open cultivated fields, nest on the face of perpendicular banks of ravines, sandy river banks and sandy bunds, gently sloping bare ground and around cultivated tracts (Sridhar & Karanth 1993). The breeding biology of the bee-eater is less exposed excepting for information on some aspects from certain parts of India (Neelakantan 1948; Bannerjee 1992; Sridhar & Karanth 1993; Asokan 1995).
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