The “bee martin” is a common name for the Eastern Kingbird. This bird earned its distinctive moniker from its diet, which includes various flying insects, sometimes even bees. Its presence is often noted by its upright posture and assertive behavior.
What is a Bee Martin?
The Eastern Kingbird, scientifically known as Tyrannus tyrannus, is a medium-sized songbird belonging to the flycatcher family. It measures approximately 7.5 to 9.1 inches in length with a wingspan of 13 to 15 inches, weighing between 1.2 and 1.9 ounces.
This species exhibits a clear, clean pattern of dark upperparts and white underparts. Its back and wings are dark gray or blackish, with the head often appearing a darker black. The bird’s most distinguishing feature is a prominent white band at the tip of its otherwise black, square-tipped tail. Eastern Kingbirds often perch in open areas on wires or exposed branches, maintaining an upright posture. They are known for their shallow, rowing wingbeats and a raised head during flight.
Diet and Its Effect on Bee Populations
Eastern Kingbirds primarily consume a wide array of insects, particularly during their breeding season. Their diet includes beetles, wasps, winged ants, grasshoppers, flies, and leafhoppers, which make up the majority of their food intake from May to September. While they do eat bees, including honey bees, these insects do not form the bulk of their diet. Their foraging behavior involves sallying from a perch, darting out to catch flying prey in mid-air, and then returning to the same spot.
Concerns about their impact on bee populations are generally overstated. Eastern Kingbirds are opportunistic feeders, often targeting drones or bees that are easier to catch, and their diet is sufficiently diverse that they do not pose a significant threat to overall bee health. During fall migration and on their wintering grounds in South America, their diet shifts dramatically to primarily fruit, such as mulberries, serviceberries, cherries, and blackberries. This dietary flexibility allows them to adapt to seasonal changes in food availability.
Where Bee Martins Live and Breed
Eastern Kingbirds are found across a wide geographical range, breeding throughout most of North America, from southern Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico, and westward to parts of Oregon and Washington. They prefer open habitats with scattered trees or shrubs, such as fields, pastures, orchards, and forest edges. These birds are also commonly observed in suburban and urban parks, often near water sources.
As migratory birds, Eastern Kingbirds undertake long journeys, traveling thousands of miles from their North American breeding grounds to wintering areas in South America, particularly the western Amazon basin. They typically construct sturdy cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs, often at heights of 7 to 30 feet above the ground. The female usually builds the nest using materials like twigs, grass, and weed stalks, and lays between 2 to 5 eggs, which are white to pinkish-white with brown or gray blotches.
Bee Martins in the Ecosystem
Eastern Kingbirds contribute significantly to their ecosystems. During the breeding season, they consume a substantial number of various insects, including those considered agricultural pests, thereby acting as natural pest controllers. This helps regulate insect populations.
These birds are also known for their territorial behavior, especially during nesting season. Both males and females aggressively defend their nests and territories from intruders, including much larger birds like crows and hawks. This assertive defense helps protect their young from predators such as blue jays, squirrels, and arboreal snakes. Their presence adds to the biodiversity of their habitats and demonstrates their place within the broader food web.