European Bee-Eater

birds · insects · migration · Africa

Champion Migrators. European bee-eaters travel thousands of miles every year, breeding in Europe and Asia during spring and summer, then flying south to tropical Africa to spend the winter where food is plentiful.

Jewel-Toned Beauty. These birds have striking colors including turquoise, golden-yellow, and chestnut feathers that shimmer in the sun, making them among the most gorgeous birds in Europe and Africa.

Aerial Acrobats. They're expert flyers that snatch insects straight out of the air with incredible speed and accuracy, especially their favorite prey: bees, wasps, and dragonflies.

Burrow Builders. Unlike many birds that build nests in trees, European bee-eaters dig long tunnels into sandy banks or cliffs where they lay their eggs and raise chicks.

Skilled Hunters. They've developed special techniques to catch bees safely, first knocking insects against a branch to remove their stingers before gobbling them down.