adult

adult adult in flight European distribution adults in tree

Identification

Bee-eaters, with their fantastic combination of rainbow colours and streamlined shape, are virtually unmistakable when seen well.

Habitat

Breeds in holes in sandpits, riverbanks and quarries. Feeds in open or at least semi-open country.

Behaviour

Bee-eaters are one of the few European species in which the young in the nest are fed, not just by their parents but also by additional 'helpers'. Genetic studies have shown that these 'helpers' are invariably the brothers and sisters of the birds being fed, usually the offspring from a previous brood. If nest sites are limited by the size of the sandbank, then helping their siblings to survive is the most useful thing that young Bee-eaters can do until they can claim a nest-site of their own.

Migration

Winters almost exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa although some will winter in India. In these wintering grounds they are regarded as pests by bee-keepers and culled by the thousands. Birds migrate by day in small flocks, especially along the Black Sea coast and over the Straits of Gibraltar.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, European Bee-eater is classed as Scarce: broadly speaking, species that are covered in British Birds' annual review of scarce species (and forms of similar rarity).

Casalborsetti, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy 27/07/2010	Olonzac, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 22/07/2010	Undisclosed Site, Portugal 16/07/2010	Olonzac, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 22/07/2010	East River, Lesvos, North Aegean, Greece 23/06/2010
Casalborsetti, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy 26/06/2010	Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey 13/06/2010	Gibraleon, Andalucia, Spain 01/06/2010	Gibraleon, Andalucia, Spain 01/06/2010	Casalborsetti, Ravena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy 05/06/2010

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European Bee-eater breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Macedonia
Moldova
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	Breeding Bee-eaters in Herefordshire	Wednesday 27th July 2005
	A pair of Bee-eaters, one of Europe's most colourful birds, have once again attempted breeding in the UK. Find out more, together with directions and on-site instructions.   read on
	RSPB Press Release: First Bee-eater chicks in UK since 1955	Wednesday 24th July 2002
	read on

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