European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) by Ronald Pol

The European Bee-eater is a colorful and graceful bird, known for its beautiful plumage. It has a golden-brown back, turquoise belly, yellow throat, and a black eye stripe that highlights its bright red eyes. This slender bird has a long, curved beak perfectly adapted to its insect-rich diet.

The European Bee-eater is found in Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Western and Central Asia. It migrates in the winter to tropical Africa, where it spends the colder months. This bird prefers open landscapes such as savannas, grasslands, and areas near rivers with steep sandy banks where it digs its nesting burrows.

As the name suggests, the European Bee-eater primarily feeds on insects, with a preference for bees, wasps, and dragonflies. It catches its prey in the air during quick, acrobatic flights. Before eating a bee or wasp, it will strike it against a hard surface to remove the stinger.

The European Bee-eater is a social bird that often lives in large colonies. They nest in self-dug tunnels in sandy banks, with each pair creating a nesting chamber at the end of the tunnel. They are monogamous and work together to raise their young. During the breeding season, they often produce their characteristic, melodious calls. European Bee-eaters play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to regulate insect populations.