European bee-eater

About

The European bee-eater is a dazzlingly colorful bird found across Europe, northern and southern Africa, and western Asia. They predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps, and hornets, which they catch mid-air and skillfully remove the stingers by repeatedly smacking the insect against a perch.

These birds are highly social, often nesting in large colonies along sandy riverbanks. During courtship, the male feeds large items to the female while eating the small ones himself. Most males are monogamous, but occasional bigamy has been encountered.