European Bee-eater
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Merops apiaster
Rare & annual migrants from Southern Europe with 40-70 per year in Britain, mostly in the Spring from April-September.
Rarely breed & 70 for Ireland.
Breeds in France, Spain, Mallorca, the Mediterranean regain, North Africa, South & Central Africa & South Africa.
Winters in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Adults are richly coloured, slender bird.
It has brown and yellow upper parts, whilst the wings are green and the beak is black.
Non-breeding plumage is much duller and with a blue-green back and no elongated central tail feathers.
Juveniles resembles a non-breeding adult, but with less variation in the feather colours.
They have a fluty call.