European Bee-eater

A warm chestnut back and nape meet a blue-green underside, with green feathers across the wings. The yellow throat is edged by a black stripe running from the bill toward the eye, and the long, slightly curved bill is black. Adults have two elongated central tail feathers that trail beyond the rest.

In flight, groups alternate quick wingbeats with long glides, then settle on exposed branches or power lines. Their mellow, rolling call sounds like “prreee” or “prruup” as they catch insects in midair, often launching from an open perch. They beat bees against a hard surface to remove the sting before swallowing them.

Over open country in warm parts of Europe and western Asia, they nest in colonies in sandy banks, often beside rivers. They catch bees, wasps and other insects in flight. Most migrate to tropical Africa for winter, while the southern African population stays year-round.