Thomas Hinsche/ BIA / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair squabbling, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Thomas Hinsche/ BIA / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Bence Mate / European bee eaters (Merops apiaster) one taking off another perched, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. May.

Bence Mate / Eurasian bee eater (Merops apiaster) dust bathing in sand, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May.

Andres M. Dominguez / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, southern Spain, July.

Ramon Navarro / Male European bee eater (Merops apiaster) offering insect to female as part of a courtship display, before mating, Seville, Spain, May.

Bence Mate / Pair of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) with courtship offering of insect prey, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary

Bence Mate / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) digging in sand, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary

Bence Mate / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) view of tail feathers as it digs in sand, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary

Roger Powell / Pair of European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) on a bank above their nest hole in front of flowers. Note regurgitated pellets of insect remains. Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with a bee landing on a branch by its mate. Alentejo, Portugal, May.

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) courting a female by offering her a Small Copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas). Alentejo, Portugal, April.