noun A bird of the genus Merops, that feeds especially on bees. Valid publication of the genus name: Linnaeus Systema Naturae (ed. Aug 5, 2015 - With love, your bee-eater Il classico momento del dono d'amore tra gruccioni. Today bee-eater endangered and protected species and killing him is pursued by law. [5] Most males are monogamous, but occasional bigamy has been encountered. The European species (Merops apiaster) is remarkable for its brilliant colors. [3], This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. As with all bee-catcher birds European bee-eaters are well adapted for their … Stinging insects are seized in the bill and the tail end of the insect is then rubbed repeatedly against a branch to expel the venom and sting therefore removing the threat these pose. European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) have a broad distribution covering much of Europe and Africa with range estimates up to 11,000,000 square km.These migratory birds can be found as far north as Finland and range as far south as South … Some parts of the insect are indigestible and these are expelled in a pellet which they regurgitate. The foraging rate was higher in presence of the birds than in their absence in some cases. noun An African bird of the genus Rhinopomastes. European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) form families that breed in the spring and summer across an area that extends from Spain to Kazakhstan. #122134927 - European bee-eater, merops apiaster, landing on a twig with bee.. The bee-eaters were first named as a scientific group by the French polymath Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, who created the bird subfamily Meropia for these birds in 1815. The European species ({Merops apiaster}) is remarkable for its brilliant colors. The Bee-eater is one of the most colorful and beautiful birds in Bulgaria, a favorite of photographers. This species occurs as a spring overshoot north of its range, with occasional breeding in northwest Europe. The most colorful bird of Eurasia. Bee-eater — Bee eat er, n. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A bird of the genus {Merops}, that feeds especially on bees. Hives close to or under trees or overhead cables are also at increased risk as the birds pounce on flying insects from these perches. Geographic Range. In spring, M. persicus arrived a few days later and laid up to 2 weeks later than M. apiaster. It can eat around 250 bees a day. (R5A_0277-small) "explored* . Once the nest is done, the socket is used until the end of the life of birds. Discover (and save!) The European Bee-eater ( Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. They are found in open or lightly-wooded areas, usually near swamps, rivers, lakes, or flooded fields in tropical and semi-tropical regions of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific.. Some parts of the insect are indigestible and these are expelled in a pellet which they regurgitate. European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, All Birds of Europe. They live in the Old World and Australasia: Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Guinea.They have richly coloured plumage and slender bodies. Alternative methods of chasing him from the area of the apiaries are tied strips of shiny foil and other audio and visual materials that keep the birds away. [5] Their typical call is a distinctive, mellow, liquid and burry prreee or prruup. 10, 1758) I. In the past, some beekeepers have destroyed their nests during hatching of their chicks. However, the damage is minimal because eaten bees do not exceed 1% of all worker bees. They have a strong preference for European honey bees, Apis mellifera, and dragonflies, which they catch in-flight before returning to their perch, whacking the prey to death and detaching the wings, before swallowing the insect's body. Like other bee-eaters, European Bee-eaters are insect hunters. Observations show that the birds actually enter the apiary only in cold and rainy periods, when the bees do not leave the hive and other insect prey are harder for the bee-eaters to detect. Aug 5, 2015 - With love, your bee-eater Il classico momento del dono d'amore tra gruccioni. It has a long, thin black mask around its orange-brown eyes, with a shiny blue line above its eye. "[13], If an apiary is set up close to a bee-eater colony, a larger number of honey bees are eaten because they are more abundant. European bee-eaters have attempted to nest in Britain on at least 5 occasions:[citation needed], This bird breeds in open country in warmer climates. Studies were conducted over a 10‐year period on the supposedly similar European Bee‐eater Merops apiaster and Blue‐cheeked Bee‐eater Merops persicus breeding in mixed and separate colonies in four Asiatic countries. They are migrated species, which flies from South Africa in April and migrate back in September in large flocks. These mi­gra­tory birds can be found as far north as Fin­land and range as far south as South Africa, ex­tend­ing east into some Asi­atic coun­tries as well. Bienenfresser (merops apiaster) - bee-eater . Stinging insects are seized in the bill and the tail end of the insect is then rubbed repeatedly against a branch to expel the venom and sting therefore removing the threat these pose. Megfigyelések a Szamos menti gyurgyalagok (Merops apiaster) fészkelési viszonyairól és táplálkozásáról [Observation about nesting and feeding of European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster breeding along the river Szamos]. The average bird meal consisted of 90.8 % honey bees and 9.2 % beetles. Can be found across the Bulgaria country in places with loose shores of soft soil. Blue tailed bee eaters. In Europe, this species inhabits broad river valleys, pasture and cultivated land with shelter-belts and scattered trees; sunny hillsides, meadows, clover fields, plains, dissected steppe, shrubby riverbanks in semi-desert, and practically any open and well-timbered country, such as cork-oak woods, olive groves, tamarisks, rice fields, cereal and root crops, and Mediterranean macchia scrub. European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster): 10 Interesting Facts 6 months ago 6 min read While the rest of us have been confined to our respective countries over the last few months, European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) have been drawing closer to their annual southerly migration. 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. European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster/Bijeneter . Before eating a bee, the European bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface. The European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. Before egg-laying, females regularly eat dirt for its mineral content. Found throughout tropical and subtropical Eurasia, Africa, and Australasia (one species, Merops apiaster, occasionally reaches the British Isles), bee-eaters range in length from 15 to 35 cm (6 to 14 inches). The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. There are about 26 species of brightly-colored birds in this family. They eat less than 1% of the worker bees in areas where they live. European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) belongs to the order ciiformes and family Bee-eaters (Meropidae). Die Alten füttern die Jungen - so ist es überall auf der Welt. They also feed and roost communally. It can reach a length of 27–29 cm (10.6–11.4 in), including the two elongated central tail feathers. [14], Many bee-keepers believe that the bee-eaters are the main obstacle causing worker bees not to forage, and instead stay inside the hives for much of the day between May and the end of August. [11] Their impact on bee populations, however, is small. There is a thin and long black beak curved down, long and pointed wings and tail often with extended middle feathers. A study in Spain found that these comprise 69.4% to 82% of the European bee-eaters' diet. The socket is made from two parents with the help of their beaks at the time of digging is disposed approximately 2 kg soil. Little Green Bee-eater - Merops orientalis/Groene bijeneter . Eu­ro­pean bee-eaters ( Merops api­aster) have a broad dis­tri­b­u­tion cov­er­ing much of Eu­rope and Africa with range es­ti­mates up to 11,000,000 square km. Description: very colourful, medium-sized bird with blue breast, abdomen, tail and primaries, reddish-brown crown, back, secondaries and upper coverts, yellow upper scapulars … it's couldn't fly. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa. Bee-eaters in size are as Common Blackbird but with a slim body length of 25-29 cm and a wingspan of 36 to 40 cm. European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) belongs to the order ciiformes and family Bee-eaters (Meropidae). The European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) is a small passerine bird in the Meropidae family of bee-eaters.The European Bee-Eater has brown and yellow upper parts, green-grey wings, a yellow throat, and a bluish belly. Information: Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds. Nature: summer visitor.. Like other bee-eaters, European Bee-eaters are insect hunters. However, a study carried out in eucalyptus forest in the Alalous region, 80 km (50 mi) east of Tripoli Libya, showed that the bee-eaters were not the main obstacle of bee foraging, which is the opposite of what beekeepers think. UK, "Rare bee-eater birds found nesting in Cumbrian quarry", https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/rare-bee-eater-nests-attracted-276061, "Prigonirea prigoriei. However, studies show the bee-eaters do not intentionally fly into the apiary, rather they feed on the insects caught on pastures and meadows within a radius of 12 km (7.5 mi) from the colony, this maximum distance being reached only when there is a lack of food. Built for the Kill. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka. European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) landing on a branch with outstretched wings with a captured bee, Koros-Maros National Park, Bekes County, Hungary European bee-eater, Merops apiaster. The genus name Merops is Ancient Greek for "bee-eater", and apiaster is Latin, also meaning "bee-eater", from apis, "bee". Lizards and frogs are also taken. Full bird list in Europe. They catch insects in flight, in sorties from an open perch. Originally: the European bee-eater, Merops apiaster. Farmland and river valleys provide huge numbers of insects. Recommended observation points: Laguna de Pitillas, Las Cañas Reservoir, Bardenas, Sotos del Arga.. Times of the year present: de abril a septiembre.. This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 02:32. In the absence of steep banks dig their holes in gentle slopes. Similar Images . Non-breeding plumage is much duller and with a blue-green back and no elongated central tail feathers. Upon completion of nesting bee-eater gather in flocks and prepare for migration. There is a further moult into breeding plumage in winter in Africa.[4]. bee eater (merops apiaster) flies away from nest hole, sierra de andujar, sierra morena, andalucia, spain - bee eater stock videos & royalty-free footage white-fronted bee-eater, ms on branch with moth in beak, hits it on branch, pulls out - bee eater stock videos & royalty-free footage These bee-eaters are gregarious—nesting colonially in sandy banks, preferably near river shores, usually at the beginning of May. [12], A study found that European bee-eaters "convert food to body weight more efficiently if they are fed a mixture of bees and dragonflies than if they eat only bees or only dragonflies. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of … Can be found across the Bulgaria country in places with loose shores of soft soil. [citation needed], The most important prey item in their diet is Hymenoptera, mostly Apis mellifera. It has brown and yellow upper parts, whilst the wings are green and the beak is black. Spatial distributions of the two species were positively associated. Female tends to have greener rather than gold feathers on shoulders. Recommended observation points: Laguna de Pitillas, Las Cañas Reservoir, Bardenas, Sotos del Arga.. Times of the year present: de abril a septiembre.. Mar 30, 2013 - This Pin was discovered by Kathy Lambert. Eats insects such as bees and wasps (after removing the sting), ants, flies, beetles, butterflies and moths. (European) Bee-eater Merops apiaster Israeli Photographer Avi Hirschfield spent 3-4 Months photographing this series of Bee-Eater's, A total of about 30 couples in an area (wall)maybe 30 meters long and in some places as high as 3 meters and as low as 1 meter.The area is totally unknown as I and a friend where the only one's who photographed there. 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