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Bee-eaters are a group of brightly colored, agile birds known for their striking plumage and their habit of eating bees and other flying insects. Here's a quick overview:

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🐦 *Bee-eaters (Family: Meropidae)*

#### 🔹 *General Description:*
Bee-eaters are medium-sized birds with **slender bodies**, **long pointed wings**, and **elongated central tail feathers**.
Most species are vibrantly colored, with combinations of **green, blue, yellow, chestnut**, and **turquoise**.
They have slightly *curved, sharp bills* perfect for catching insects mid-air.

#### 🔹 *Diet:*
True to their name, bee-eaters primarily eat **bees**, **wasps**, **dragonflies**, and other flying insects.
Before eating stinging insects, they expertly remove the sting by **rubbing the insect against a hard surface**.

#### 🔹 *Habitat:*
Found mostly in **Africa**, **Asia**, **Europe**, and **Australia**.
Prefer *open woodlands**, **grasslands**, and **riverbanks* for nesting.

#### 🔹 *Behavior:*
They are **social birds**, often seen in flocks.
Bee-eaters are also known for their *impressive aerial acrobatics* while hunting.
Many species are **migratory**, especially those that breed in Europe and winter in Africa.

#### 🔹 *Nesting:*
They dig *burrows in sandy banks or cliffs* to lay their eggs.
Both parents usually help with **incubation and feeding chicks**.

#### 🔹 *Famous Species:*
1. *European Bee-eater* (*Merops apiaster*) – Very colorful, breeds in Europe and winters in Africa.
2. *Little Bee-eater* (*Merops pusillus*) – A small, widespread species in Sub-Saharan Africa.
3. *Rainbow Bee-eater* (*Merops ornatus*) – Native to Australia, stunning iridescent feathers.

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Would you like photos or sound clips of their calls? Or info on how to spot them in the wild?