Swallows, known for their agile flight, are insectivorous birds that primarily consume a wide variety of flying insects. While their diet mainly consists of softer-bodied prey, swallows may occasionally eat bees, though this is not their preferred or primary food source. Their feeding habits are largely opportunistic, meaning they will consume what is readily available in their aerial hunting grounds.
Typical Swallow Diet
Swallows are highly adapted aerial feeders, capturing most of their prey while in flight. Their diet is overwhelmingly composed of flying insects, with some species, like the Barn Swallow, having a diet that is nearly entirely animal matter, about 99.8%. Common prey items include various types of flies, such as mosquitoes, gnats, horse flies, and crane flies. They also frequently consume beetles, moths, butterflies, and smaller insects like aphids and flying ants.
Swallows tend to select larger prey items from the available insect population rather than indiscriminately scooping up every insect. The ease with which an insect can be captured also influences its likelihood of being eaten. For instance, a single Barn Swallow can consume approximately 60 insects per hour, or up to 850 insects in a single day, highlighting their significant role in insect control. While primarily insectivorous, some swallow species, such as the Tree Swallow, may supplement their diet with plant matter, including berries and seeds, particularly during winter months.
Do Swallows Target Bees?
While swallows are capable of catching and consuming bees, these stinging insects are generally not a primary or targeted food source. Swallows are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will take advantage of available prey. However, they tend to avoid stinging insects like bees and wasps. Despite this, some accounts and diet analyses do list bees and wasps as part of a swallow’s varied diet, suggesting occasional consumption.
Several factors contribute to bees not being a common food item. Bees possess defensive stinging capabilities, and swallows typically lack specialized techniques to disarm or de-sting their prey. Additionally, bees can be relatively larger and tougher than the soft-bodied insects swallows prefer. More abundant and safer insect alternatives are usually available. If a swallow consumes a bee, it is likely caught by chance during general foraging or when other food sources are scarce.
Beekeepers have observed swallows preying on bees near hives, sometimes targeting drone bees or queens, which are less likely to sting. However, their overall impact on a healthy bee colony is typically minimal.