European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Photo by Momo
Photographed: Penthaz, VD, Switzerland

Identification

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly-coloured, slender bird. It has brown and yellow upper parts, whilst the wings are green and the beak is black. It can reach a length of 27-29 cm, including the two elongated central tail feathers. Sexes are alike

Distribution

Fairly common summer visitor to Europe and western Asia. Breeds over much of Iberia, in southern France and parts of Italy, and from the eastern Adriatic to the Black and Caspian Seas. In Russia breeds north to about 570N. Found throughout Turkey and the Caucasus, in northern Iraq and in scattered parts of the Middle East. In the Mediterranean breeds on the Balearics, Corsica and Sardinia, Crete and Cyprus. In North Africa breeds widely across the north-west. Further east breeds over much of Iraq and Iran and discontinuously east to western China. Also breeds in parts of southern Africa.

Leaves breeding grounds in August-September to winter in sub-Saharan Africa from Sierra Leone to Ivory Coast and more commonly from Tanzania to eastern South Africa.. Returns to breeding grounds in April-May. Occurs on passage throughout southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, regular in small numbers on the Canary Islands.

Frequently overshoots on spring migration and rare but annual visitor north to Britain, the North Sea countries and Scandinavia. Has bred in Britain, Scandinavia, Poland, Sicily and the Canary Islands and the first breeding for Switzerland was recorded in 1991. Vagrants recorded on Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde Islands.

A rare spring migrant in Britain with under 40 records in most years, the majority in southern England but also recorded north to Shetland. In Britain has bred in Sussex in 1955, two pairs raising seven young and one pair in Durham in 2002. In the same year breeding also took place in Belgium and the Netherlands, far north of usual range.

Taxonomy

The European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae

Habitat

Open country with scattered trees, edges and clearings in light woodland, commonly along riverbanks and in vineyards and other cultivated areas. Nests colonially in tunnels in sand or earth banks.

Behaviour

These bee-eaters are gregarious, nesting colonially in sandy banks, preferably near river shores, usually at the beginning of May. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 5 to 8, spherical white eggs are laid around the beginning of June. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs, which are brooded for about 3 weeks. These birds also feed and roost communally.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Merops apiaster (song).mp3</flashmp3>
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External Links

Search for photos of European Bee-eater in the gallery

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