European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
Meet the European Bee-eater
The European Bee-eater is a vividly colored, slender bird known for its striking plumage featuring green, yellow, blue, and chestnut tones. This migratory bird breeds in southern and central Europe and parts of North Africa and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa. It is famous for its aerial acrobatics as it catches bees, wasps, and other flying insects mid-flight. The species nests colonially in sandy banks, where it excavates long tunnels for breeding. European Bee-eaters play a vital ecological role in controlling insect populations.
Wikipedia Data 🎥 6 Videos 📚 3 Sources Classification
Bird
Habitat
Open countryside, river valleys, sandbanks, and farmland with scattered trees
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
5-10 years
Conservation
Least Concern
Weight
44-78 grams
📖Fascinating Facts
Bee Specialist
European Bee-eaters have evolved specialized techniques to catch and eat bees and wasps, including removing the stinger by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.
Long-Distance Migrant
These birds migrate thousands of kilometers between their European breeding grounds and African wintering areas, often flying in flocks.
Tunnel Nesters
They dig horizontal tunnels up to 2 meters long into sandy banks to create safe nesting chambers for their eggs.
📋Detailed Description
The European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a medium-sized, slender bird measuring 27–29 cm in length, with a wingspan of 44–49 cm and weighing between 44–78 grams. Its plumage is exceptionally vivid, featuring a golden-brown crown and nape, yellow throat bordered by a thin black line, turquoise-blue underparts, and chestnut back and wings. The tail is elongated with central feathers extending into streamers, aiding in aerial maneuverability. The species is highly gregarious, often observed in flocks during migration and at breeding colonies. European Bee-eaters are diurnal and exhibit complex social behaviors, including cooperative breeding and communal roosting. Their vocalizations are distinctive, consisting of melodious, rolling 'prruup' calls used for communication during flight and at nesting sites. The species is renowned for its agility, performing intricate aerial pursuits to capture flying insects. Nesting occurs in colonies, where pairs excavate horizontal tunnels up to 1–2 meters deep in sandy banks or cliffs. Both sexes participate in nest excavation, incubation, and chick rearing. Their ecological role is significant, as they help regulate populations of bees, wasps, and other large insects.
💡 Did you know?
Despite their name, European Bee-eaters can consume up to 250 bees daily without harming themselves or significantly impacting local bee populations.
🔬Research & Sources
Wikipedia Summary
The European bee-eater is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. It breeds in southern and central Europe, northern and southern Africa, and western Asia. Except for the resident southern African population, the species is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa. This species occurs as a spring overshoot north of its usual range, with occasional breeding in northern Europe.
Last Modified: 1/19/2025
🎭Behavior & Social Structure
European Bee-eaters are highly social, forming loose colonies of up to several hundred pairs during the breeding season. They engage in cooperative behaviors such as sentinel duty, where individuals watch for predators while others forage or excavate nests. Their hunting technique involves sallying from exposed perches to catch insects mid-air, often returning to the perch to subdue and remove stingers from prey before consumption. Feeding is most active during warm, sunny periods when insect activity peaks. Outside the breeding season, they roost communally in trees or reed beds. Courtship involves aerial chases, food offerings, and synchronized flight displays. Daily routines include periods of sunning, preening, and social interaction, which help maintain plumage condition and reinforce social bonds.
👶Reproduction & Life Cycle
Breeding occurs from late May to July, with timing varying by latitude. European Bee-eaters are seasonally monogamous, and pairs often reunite at the same nesting site each year. Courtship feeding is common, with males presenting captured insects to females. Both sexes excavate a horizontal tunnel in sandy banks, typically 1–2 meters long, ending in a nesting chamber. Females lay 4–7 white, spherical eggs, which are incubated for 20–22 days by both parents. After hatching, chicks are altricial and remain in the nest for 20–30 days, receiving frequent feedings from both parents and sometimes from helpers (usually offspring from previous broods). Fledglings remain dependent on adults for several weeks post-fledging.
🛡️Adaptations & Survival
European Bee-eaters possess several adaptations for aerial insectivory, including long, pointed wings for agile flight and a slightly decurved bill optimized for snatching insects. Their acute vision allows them to detect prey at considerable distances. Specialized jaw muscles and a notched bill help them remove stingers from bees and wasps by repeatedly striking prey against hard surfaces. Their bright plumage may serve as a social signal within colonies and a warning to potential predators of their unpalatability due to their insect diet. Colonial nesting in sandy banks provides protection from ground predators and environmental extremes.
📚Research Sources
🎨Cultural Significance
European Bee-eaters have featured in folklore and art across their range, often admired for their beauty and aerial prowess. In some Mediterranean cultures, they are associated with the arrival of spring and considered symbols of good fortune. Historically, bee-keepers viewed them with suspicion due to their predation on bees, though studies show their impact on honeybee populations is minimal. Their striking appearance has made them a popular subject for birdwatchers and nature photographers, contributing to ecotourism in some regions.
🔬Recent Research & Discoveries
Recent research has focused on the species' migratory routes using geolocator tracking, revealing complex trans-Saharan movements and stopover sites critical for conservation. Studies on cooperative breeding have provided insights into kin selection and social evolution in birds. Investigations into diet composition using DNA metabarcoding have highlighted their role in controlling pest insect populations. Ongoing research examines the effects of climate change on migration phenology and breeding success, with evidence suggesting earlier arrival and breeding in some northern populations.
🎥Wildlife Videos
The Life of a Bee Eater | Real Angry Birds
About National Geographic Wild: National Geographic Wild is a place for all things animals and for animal-lovers alike. Take a ...
Nat Geo Animals
European Bee-Eater → The Ultimate Bee Hunter ● #facts @MadfullMoments ◌ EP►38
European Bee-Eater → The Ultimate Bee Hunter ○ #facts @MadfullMoments ◌ EP▻38 The European Bee-eater (Merops ...
Madfull Moments
Honey Buzzards Feast on Deadly Hornets
Oriental honey buzzards have a deadly diet. Please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed it! http://bit.ly/1Adl6ht **More info ...
Nature on PBS
European bee-eaters hunting at sunset
The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is among the most beautiful and colourful birds in Europe. It breeds in deep ground ...
European Wildlife by Lukáš Pich
Bee eatersHD a bird watching documentary film
closeup wildlife documentary. Bee-Eaters. Bird watching and wildlife film.
CloseUP wildlife
European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) feeding chicks on nesting site
European bee eater(Merops apiaster) nesting site, adult birds feeding chicks. Pčelarica (Merops apiaster) hrani mlade ptiće u ...
Luka Hercigonja
🌍Habitat Information
The European Bee-eater typically inhabits Open countryside, river valleys, sandbanks, and farmland with scattered trees environments. European Bee-eaters have adapted to their environments with specialized features and behaviors.
Primary Habitat:
Open countryside, river valleys, sandbanks, and farmland with scattered trees
More detailed habitat information will be available soon.
🛡️Conservation Status
The European Bee-eater is currently classified as Least Concern. Conservation efforts are crucial for preserving this species for future generations.
Common Threats:
- 🏠Habitat loss and fragmentation
- 🌡️Climate change impacts
- 🎯Hunting and poaching
- 🏭Human-wildlife conflict
⚠️Threats & Conservation Challenges
While currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, European Bee-eaters face localized threats including habitat loss due to riverbank stabilization, agricultural intensification, and pesticide use that reduces insect prey availability. Disturbance at breeding colonies and illegal hunting along migration routes, particularly in the Mediterranean, also pose risks. Climate change may alter migration timing and breeding success. Despite these challenges, the species' wide range and adaptability have allowed populations to remain stable or increase in some areas, with northward expansion observed in recent decades.
🔬Scientific Classification
Scientific Name
Merops apiaster
Classification Hierarchy
🔍 About Taxonomic Classification
Taxonomic classification is a hierarchical system used by scientists to classify and organize living organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
The system moves from broad categories (Kingdom) to increasingly specific ones, with each animal's scientific name typically consisting of its Genus and species.
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