A streak of colour glides past a blur of wildflowers as a European bee-eater cuts through the air. Turquoise, gold and chestnut shimmer across its wings as it hunts in flight, snatching insects mid-air with swift turns. Bees and wasps are among its favoured prey, and the bird often removes the stinger before feeding—a behaviour that reduces the risk of injury.

European bee-eaters breed across southern Europe, the Mediterranean region and parts of western Asia during the warmer months. After the breeding season, most populations migrate south, with many spending the winter in sub-Saharan Africa, while some eastern groups follow routes to northeastern Africa. Pictured here in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in southern Spain, a mountainous area known for high rainfall and rich biodiversity, bee-eaters nest in groups, excavating tunnels in sandy banks where they raise their young in colonies. Away from the nest, they often gather briefly on perches before taking flight in coordinated bursts of colour.