Bee-eaters · Rollers and kingfishers
European Bee-eater
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Merops apiaster
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Voice
Call
Song
Alarm
How to recognize it
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23–30 cm, smaller than a pigeon, very slim
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Blue belly, chestnut-brown back, wings mixed brown and green
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Black stripe from bill base to eyes, yellow throat
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Fast flight with bursts of flapping and gliding; call "prreee"
About the species
The European Bee-eater stands out right away for its bright colours and slim shape. Adults also have a long curved bill and elongated tail feathers, while younger ones look a little duller and shorter-tailed.
It spends a lot of time on the wing and often appears in groups. Flight is agile, with quick wingbeats mixed with gliding, and on the ground it seems less sure of itself. Its voice is soft but easy to notice.
It lives in colonies in open country, nesting in sandy or clay banks, often near villages and rivers. It feeds mainly on insects, especially bees, wasps, and bumblebees. In many places it is a migrant, spending winter in tropical Africa or India.
Where to find
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On sandy or clay banks by rivers and gullies — look for rows of burrow holes in the wall and a stream of sharp, liquid calls from the colony.
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Over warm open lawns and vacant lots, where European Bee-eater swoops low for flying insects before settling on a lone branch or wire.
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Near bridges, embankments, and steep cut slopes — the best clue is a perch on a cable, then a dart out after passing prey.
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At pond edges or along canal banks in the early morning, especially where dragonflies skim over the water and quick flashes of color follow.