The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater has two subspecies. The nominal one shown here breeds across near and Central Asia,
from Turkey to Kazakhstan and India, and winters in Southern Africa.
The other subspecies breeds in North Africa and winters in West Africa. The photos on this pages
were taken in Kazakhstan by Alexandra Makhnina.
Related to Kingfishers, Bee-eaters catch bees (mainly) and other flying insects in flight.
The present! Courtship to show that he will provide when she is nesting and for the young.
Synchronised. Male and female have similar plumage with pale blue face and yellow and brown chin.
Juveniles lack the long central tail feather of the adults.
They prefer semi-desert habitat and nest in holes in sandy banks, usually in colonies.