European Bee Eater

This bird, whilst a regular summer breeding visitor, is by no means abundant but in the right areas can be seen on a regular basis.

The best places to view are in the north where they can be seen on migration during May. Another excellent venue is Son Bosc in the south of the Albufera Reserve where there is a small colony each year and these can often be seen on the overhead telegraph wires. The Son Bosc and Depuradora sites have been added to the website due to the amount of interest from Birdwatchers eager to get Bee Eater sightings close to Alcudia. This year this spring has probably seen the most European Bee Eaters ever with large flocks passing through and occasionally resting unmistakable with their sounds. I have seen large flocks of 60+ especially at the Can Curassa.

Good views can also be achieved over the Albufreta and surrounding areas such as the back lanes of Puerto Pollensa and Cap de Salines in the very south west.

Technical description

European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka. This species occurs as a spring overshoot north of its range, with occasional breeding in northwest Europe. This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly-coloured, slender bird. It has brown and yellow upper parts, whilst the wings are green and the beak is black. It can reach a length of 27–29 cm (10.6–11.4 in), including the two elongated central tail feathers. Sexes are alike.