European Bee-eater

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Open countryside, sandy banks.
Diet: Bees, wasps, dragonflies.
Best time to spot: Spring/summer; gregarious.

When to look

Scarce or local in the UK. Timing varies by region, so check recent sightings before you travel. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.

How rare is it?

The European Bee-eater sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Blue-cheeked Bee-eaterLegendary · Open country (extreme vagrant)
• Black KiteRare · Open country (passage)
• Crested LarkRare · Open dry ground
• Eurasian HoopoeRare · Open ground
• Eurasian WryneckRare · Open woodland (passage)
• Great Grey ShrikeRare · Open heath

Kit that helps

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