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Bee-eaters with bumblebees in their bill. Bee-eaters are nesting in colonies. It might mean dozens of nests at a single vertical bank. During the mating period every couple has their own twig. However, when they are feeding the chicks, it is more…

Adult bee-eater with a dragonfly. Bee-eaters have magnificent flying abilities. They are able to catch even dragonflies mid-air, which requires acrobatic movements. Beside bee-eaters, just 2 falcons are able to catch them.

Adult arrives to the nesting hole with a bumblebee, where a chick calls for food. When chicks are larger, they are climbing one by one to the entrance of the tunnel to call for food. Whenever a chick receives food, climbs back into the chamber to…

Adult bee-eater feeds a chick deep in the nesting chamber. Bee-eaters dig their nests in vertical banks. Nesting tunnel is 2-7 feet long and really tight. Nesting chamber is a wider part at the very end, leaving enough space to 5-7 chicks. When…

Male leaves the female from the mating twig. After copulation, male departs to collect another 8-10 preys for the next mating. Bee-eaters use the same twig for the copulation during mating season.

Mating: male jumps on the femaleis back to copulate. After presenting 8-10 insects as a ìmating gifti, female lets male to copulate once. Dozens of matings can happen daily for 2 weeks.

Courtship feeding: male offers food for the female. During mating period, male feeds the female. Male must present 8-10 insects for the female, before she would let him to mate. However, if the prey is large like a dragonfly, mating might immediately…

Male bee-eater throws up a bug into the air beside female. Prey-throwing is part of the ìattraction of the femalei process. To show his hunting abilities, male is throwing up prey several times into the air before offering it to the female.

Male bee-eaters fighting mid-air. Males are really aggressive during mating period. They strongly defend their small territory around the nesting hole, especially from other males. It is because of the risk of the mating of foreign males with the…

Bee-eater couple on a blossoming bush. During the first 2 weeks after their arrival, the adult couple perches on the same twig so close, that they are even touching each other.