Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

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.

Habitat:

Rocky Mountainside

Notes:

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.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

No Comments

Jared Hersch
Spotted by
Jared Hersch

Cederberg Local Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa

Spotted on Oct 17, 2013
Submitted on Nov 2, 2013

Related Spottings

Bee-eater Bee-eater Bee eater European_bee-eater

Nearby Spottings

Bachman's Hesperantha Brachycarpaea Serrate Gazania Amsinckia

Reference

Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team