european bee eater flock | oil on canvas

European Bee-eaters are some of the most spectacular aerial hunters in the bird world, and this artwork captures their energy perfectly. In Africa, where they spend the non-breeding season, these birds form lively flocks that wheel through the sky catching insects on the wing. Their favourites are bees, wasps, and flying beetles, all snatched mid-air with incredible precision. Before swallowing a stinging insect, they deftly beat it against a branch to remove the sting — a graceful but highly skilled manoeuvre. Their year is shaped by an extraordinary migration. As southern Africa cools, they begin their long journey north, travelling thousands of kilometres to Europe and parts of western Asia. There, they nest in colonies, excavating deep burrows in sandy banks where they raise their chicks. Once breeding is complete, the entire population sweeps back to Africa, returning to warm climates rich in insect life. This constant movement — feeding in Africa’s summer skies, nesting under Europe’s warm sun — makes the European Bee-eater one of the most vibrant and wide-ranging travelers of the avian world.