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European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Description:

"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 (10.6–11.4 in), including the two elongated central tail feathers. Sexes are alike." ~wiki

Habitat:

" It breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka. This species occurs as a spring overshoot north of its range, with occasional breeding in northwest Europe. This is a bird which breeds in open country in warmer climates. Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. Before eating its meal, a European Bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface. It eats some 250 bees daily. Lizards and frogs are also taken." ~wiki

Notes:

The bee eaters are here - it's officially spring! :-) Photos are of the ones spotted in Nuweiba in the afternoon, but I also spotted a lone bee-eater from my roof in Dahab in the early evening.

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Egypt

Lat: 29.01, Long: 34.67

Spotted on Apr 22, 2012
Submitted on Apr 22, 2012

Reference

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