Identification and Management of Predatory Birds of Honey Bee

Beekeeping remains one of the profitable areas among agriculturists, commercial beekeepers and farmers, and is being exploited to its full potential to increase their income. Among several limiting factors, honeybee enemies pose a major threat to this enterprise. Wax moths and wasps cause immense losses to beekeepers throughout the country, therefore, got maximum attention by the researchers. In addition, birds are also known to attack honey bees. Various species of birds predate on honeybees and their attack is pronounced during dearth period and cloudy conditions. Major predatory birds (Class: Aves) of honeybees are Merops apiaster (European bee-eater), Merops orientalis (small green bee-eater) Merops leschenaultia (chestnut headed bee-eater) Merops persicus (blue cheeked bee-eater), Merops philippinus (blue tailed bee-eater), Indicator indicator, Indicator xanthonotus and Indicator varigatus (honey guides). Minor birds are Picus viridis (Green woodpecker), Picoides major (Great spotted or variegated woodpecker), Parus major major (common great tit), Parus caeruleus (blue tit), Passer domesticus (house sparrow), Dicrurus macrocerus, Dicrurus aster (drongo/ king crow). In the present chapter identification, nature of damage and management of predatory birds has been discussed.