23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
bathing in gold

This image shows green bee-eaters taking a dust bath at sunset. Green bee-eaters often dust bathe to remove excess oil from their feathers, preventing them from sticking together, improving flight, and keeping them warm. It also helps remove tiny parasites like lice and mites. From thousands of images, this frame is my favourite — green bee-eaters, framed in golden winter light, in the midst of its graceful dust bath.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2025
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Aurangabad, India
Camera: NIKON Z 8
Copyright: © Sarthak Agrawal