European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Dressed in a kaleidoscope of turquoise, gold, chestnut, and green, the European Bee-eater is one of the most colorful birds in its range. It breeds across southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, nesting in sandy riverbank burrows. True to its name, it catches bees and wasps mid-flight, skillfully removing their stingers before swallowing.