European Bee-eater
Image: <div class="fn value"> <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kookaburra_81" title="User:Kookaburra 81">Pierre Dalous</a></div> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameEuropean Bee-eater
Common NameEuropean Bee-eater
Scientific NameMerops apiaster
FamilyMeropidae
Wingspan (cm)38
Length (cm)28
Weight (g)52
Plumage DetailsThis species exhibits a vibrant plumage with a chestnut crown and mantle, a bright yellow throat bordered by a thin black stripe, and a prominent black eye-stripe. The belly and rump are turquoise-blue, while the wings display a mix of green, blue, and rufous tones.
Vocalization / CallTheir vocalization is a distinctive, liquid, rolling 'prruup' or 'prrreee', often given in flight or from a perch.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsopen country, grassland, shrubland, riverbanks, farmland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, migrating to sub-Saharan Africa and India for the winter.
Identifying Featuresvibrant multi-colored plumage, long, slender, decurved black bill, black eye-stripe, yellow throat, chestnut crown and mantle, turquoise-blue belly
Description
The European Bee-eater is a strikingly colorful migratory bird known for its aerial hunting of insects, particularly bees and wasps. They are highly social, often seen perching together on branches and nesting in colonies in sandy banks.
