(European) Bee-eater Merops apiaster

Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Bee-eater
The (European) Bee-eater breeds in southern Europe, North Africa and west and Central Asia; it winters in southern Africa and South Asia. Male and female have similar turquoise green (front) and bronze (back) plumage with yellow chin. Juveniles lack the long central tail feather of the adults.
Bee-eater in flight
Bee-eater in flight
Bee-eater in flight
Related to Kingfishers, Bee-eaters catch bees (mainly) and other flying insects in flight. They nest in holes in sandy banks, in colonies. There have been rare vagrants and even rare successful breeding attempts in the UK (wild).
Bee-eaters mating
Bee-eaters mating by Sasha Makhnina
The above two photos of mating Bee-eaters were taken by Alexandra Makhnina in Kazakhstan.
Bee-eater
They often hunt from a convenient perch.
Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Bee-eater
The three pictures above and all those below are also by Alexandra Makhnina.
Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Bee-eater
Bee-eater music
European Bee-eater music
Bee-eater music
Bee-eater musical score