European Bee-eater

The European Bee-eater is an incredibly colourful bird with an unmistakable appearance. In breeding plumage, it has a rich chestnut crown that blends into gold on its back. The forehead is white, the throat is yellow bordered by black and the underparts are blue. The male European Bee-eater has a chestnut-coloured patch in the middle of the wing while in females this patch is usually smaller or even absent. Occasionally, females may also be distinguished from the males by having a green back. The wings and backs of juvenile European Bee-eaters are entirely green and the eyes are brown in contrast to the bright red eyes of adults.

The European Bee-eater breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia. It is strongly migratory and winters in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka.

European Bee-eaters are occasionally seen in northern Europe (including the UK) as a spring overshoot north of its range with occasional breeding occurring.

Just as the name suggests, the European Bee-eater predominantly eats insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. Before eating its meal, a European Bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface. Lizards and frogs are also taken.

European Bee-eaters are gregarious, nesting colonially in sandy banks preferably near river shores and also feeding and roosting communally.

Date: 7th May 2015

Location: Evros Delta (west), East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece