European Bee-eaters with wings spread in wildflower meadow

A bug's bane

The colorful plumage, the winter layovers in the tropics—who doesn't love the European bee-eater? Bees. Bee-eaters really do eat bees, and other insects as well. They catch bugs midair, carry them to a perch, and pound them to rub out most or all of the venom, making them safe to eat. You can find these jewel-toned birds throughout much of Europe, especially in nature reserves and parks. It's easy to see why they're a favorite subject of photographers, whether perching, flying, hunting, or (as it seems here) bragging about their daily haul of bees.