Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) courting a female by offering it a bee. Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with a Small White butterfly (Pieris rapae) a courtship gift for a female. Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Konrad Wothe / European Bee eaters (Merops apiaster) pair in flight, Bulgaria, May

Konrad Wothe / European Bee eater in flight (Merops apiaster) Bulgaria, May

Konrad Wothe / European Bee eater (Merops apiaster) sun bathing on road, Bulgaria, May

Erlend Haarberg / European bee eaters (Merops apiaster) perched on branch, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May

Markus Varesvuo / European bee eater (Merops apiaster) portrait, Hungary, June

Roland Seitre / White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis). Tana River District, Kenya.

Dave Watts / Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) male and female pair, Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) male, Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) female, Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) female with prey in beak, Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) female, Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) male, Queensland, Australia

Sandesh Kadur / Little Green Bee-eaters (Merops orientalis) basking in the sun on red earth, Western Ghats, Southern India

Sandesh Kadur / Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) Western Ghats, Southern India

Sue Flood / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perched back to back. Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary, May.

Mary McDonald / Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) with fly prey. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Nick Garbutt / Flock of Southern carmine bee-eaters (Merops nubicoides) in flight from the banks of the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, October

Nick Garbutt / Southern Carmine bee-eaters (Merops nubicoides) near nest holes on the banks of the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, October

Nick Garbutt / Southern Carmine bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) returning to nest hole in river bank, Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, October

Nick Garbutt / Southern Carmine bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) returning to nest hole in river bank, Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, October

Roger Powell / Bee Eaters (Merops apiaster) mating. Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Roger Powell / Bee Eater (Merops apiaster) calling. Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Roger Powell / Bee Eater (Merops apiaster) with a bee in its beak as part of its courtship display. Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / Two European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) on perch, one about to land with wings spread. Hungary, May. Wild Wonders of Europe, Magic Moments Book.

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Green Bee-eater (Merops Orientails) pair with food, one with insect prey. Kanha National Park, India, April.

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) perched. Samburu, Kenya, December.

Stefan Huwiler / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Hungary, Europe, May.

Markus Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) catching a bee in flight. Israel, May. Magic Moments book plate, page 60.

Inaki Relanzon / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perching. The Pyrenees, Spain, May.

Inaki Relanzon / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perching. The Pyrenees, Spain, May.

Inaki Relanzon / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perching. The Pyrenees, Spain, May.

Inaki Relanzon / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perching. The Pyrenees, Spain, May.

Inaki Relanzon / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perching. The Pyrenees, Spain, May.

Inaki Relanzon / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perching. The Pyrenees, Spain, May.

Tony Heald / Little bee eater {Merops pusillus} perched, Chobe NP, Botswana

Mary McDonald / Two Little bee-eaters (Merops pusillus) perched, Masai Mara GR, Kenya

Dietmar Nill / Three Little bee eaters {Merops pusillus} perched in a row, Gambia

Peter Blackwell / Two Little Bee-eaters (Merops pusillus) perched on branch, Masai Mara GR, Kenya.

Kevin Schafer / Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) perched on a branch. Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.

Kevin Schafer / Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) perched on branch. Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) male flying in to present a Bee to his mate, Castro Verde, Portugal, April

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) male flying in to present a Bee to his mate, Castro Verde, Portugal, April

Roger Powell / Pair of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) resting on a eucalyptus branch watching another encroaching bird, Castro Verde, Portugal, April

Roger Powell / Pair of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) perched together on a eucalyptus branch Castro Verde, Portugal, April

Guy Edwardes / Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus cyanostictus) perched in branch, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa, February

Guy Edwardes / Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus cyanostictus) perched in branch, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa, February

Ann & Steve Toon / Swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) in flight, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Steven David Miller / Rainbow / Australian Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) perched on branch, Standleys Chasm, West Macdonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia

Aflo / ic-10005 Rainbow bee-eater {Merops ornatus} Australia.

Stephen Dalton / White-fronted bee-eater (Merops bullockoides)Multiflash sequence of six images after take-off, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / White-fronted bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) in flight, Europe

Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) male offering female insect prey in courtship, Germany

Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) male displaying to female, carrying insect prey, Germany

Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) mating pair, Germany

Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) courtship display of mating pair, Germany

Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) perched with insect prey, Germany

Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) male passing insect prey to female, Germany

Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair perched, Germany

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Little green bee-eater {Merops orientalis} perched, sunning, Oman, March

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / European bee eater (Merops apiaster) with prey in breeding colony on rock face, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / European bee eater (Merops apiaster) with dragonfly prey, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / Four European bee eaters (Merops apiaster) perched on branch with prey in beaks, breeding colony, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / European bee eater (Merops apiaster) with prey on rock face in breeding colony, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / European bee eater (Merops apiaster) with prey on rock face in breeding colony, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Bernard Castelein / Little green bee-eater (Merops orientalis) pair perched, male giving female a gift of insect prey, Rajasthan, India

David Tipling / Blue-throated bee-eater (Merops viridis) perched on wire, Luzon, Philippines

Nick Garbutt / Green bee-eater (Merops orientalis) sunbathing, Bandhavgarh NP, India

Jose B. Ruiz / European bee eater {Merops apiaster} flying to nest with insect prey, Alicante, Spain

Tim Laman / Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) perched in the Sundarban Forest, Khulna Province, Bangladesh.

Tim Laman / Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinis) perched in shrub in the Sundarban Forest, Khulna Province, Bangladesh.

Tim Laman / Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) perched, Sundarbans, Khulna Province, Bangladesh.

Tim Laman / Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinis) perched in shrub in the Sundarban Forest, Khulna Province, Bangladesh.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Little green bee-eater {Merops orientalis} perched on ground, Sohar, Oman

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Little green bee-eater {Merops orientalis} on ground, Sohar, Oman

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) feeding on bumblebee, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) digging out nest hole in sandy bank, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) portrait, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) in flight,Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvu / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) head portrait, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008. WWE INDOOR EXHIBITION

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair perched, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) preening, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) perched, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair perched, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / European Souslik / Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) carrying nesting material and being chased by European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) Bulgaria, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) head portrait, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair perched, Pusztaszer, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) perched, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) at nest hole in sand bank, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with cockchafer prey in beak, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) head portrait, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) landing, rear view, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) mating pair, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) perched, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Varesvuo / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) in flight with insect prey, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May 2008