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European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Least Concern
Длина
28,0 cm
Размах крыльев
38,0 cm
Масса
56,0 g
Семейство
Meropidae
Отряд
Coraciiformes

О нас

The European bee-eater is one of the most colorful birds in Europe, displaying a rainbow palette of chestnut, gold, and turquoise. True to their name, bee-eaters specialize in catching venomous insects, skillfully removing the stinger before consumption. They nest in colonies, excavating tunnel burrows up to two meters into sandy banks.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
Body Length 28,0 cm 11.0 in
Размах крыльев 38,0 cm 15.0 in
Масса 56,0 g 1.98 oz

Идентификация

Оперение

Richly colored with a chestnut-brown crown and back, golden-yellow scapulars, turquoise-blue underparts, and a black eye stripe. Central tail feathers are elongated.

Клюв

Long, slender, slightly decurved black bill

Habitat & Range

Open country with scattered trees, sandy banks, and river cliffs for nesting. Breeds in colonies in tunnels dug into earth banks.

Географический ареал

Southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Winters in tropical Africa. A long-distance migrant.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily bees, wasps, and hornets caught in flight. Removes stingers by beating prey against a branch before swallowing.

Охранный статус

Least Concern
IUCN Red List

Поведение и размножение

Гнездование

Nest type: BU. Incubation: 13-20 days. Fledging: 30-31 days.

Размер кладки

4-10

Звук

Пение

A liquid, melodic 'pruik-pruik' or rolling 'prruup-pruup' in flight. Flocks give a distinctive far-carrying bubbling call audible before birds are seen. Considered a pleasant sound.

Таксономия

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Отряд Coraciiformes (Kingfishers & Rollers)
Семейство Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
Genus Merops
Виды Merops apiaster

Names in Other Languages

Language Name
German Bienenfresser
Spanish Abejaruco Europeo

Distribution

European Bee-eater has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Присутствует Not recorded
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countries highlighted

External Databases

Часто задаваемые вопросы

What does the European Bee-eater eat?
Primarily bees, wasps, and hornets caught in flight. Removes stingers by beating prey against a branch before swallowing.
Where does the European Bee-eater live?
Open country with scattered trees, sandy banks, and river cliffs for nesting. Breeds in colonies in tunnels dug into earth banks.
Is the European Bee-eater endangered?
The European Bee-eater has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the European Bee-eater nest?
Nest type: BU. Incubation: 13-20 days. Fledging: 30-31 days.
What does the European Bee-eater sound like?
A liquid, melodic 'pruik-pruik' or rolling 'prruup-pruup' in flight. Flocks give a distinctive far-carrying bubbling call audible before birds are seen. Considered a pleasant sound.
How big is the European Bee-eater?
The European Bee-eater has a body length of 28.0 cm, wingspan of 38.0 cm, weight of 56.0 g.
What order and family does the European Bee-eater belong to?
The European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) belongs to the order Coraciiformes and the family Meropidae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Meropidae family

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