The European Bee Eater, Merops apiaster, is a small aerial hunter with vivid turquoise, chestnut, and golden-yellow feathers and a black eye stripe. Its slim, gently downcurved black bill and pointed wings give it a sleek silhouette as it scythes through warm air over rivers, meadows and farmland, the light catching its beautiful colours.
As its name suggests, this species specialises in hunting bees, wasps and hornets, along with dragonflies and other large flying insects. It usually hunts from a prominent perch such as a branch, fence post or wire, sallying out in short, precise flights to snatch prey on the wing before returning to its lookout. When it catches a stinging insect, it deftly disarms it by battering it against the perch and rubbing the abdomen to squeeze out venom and remove the sting, then tossing it into the air and swallowing it head-first.
European Bee Eaters are social and nest in colonies, tunnelling long burrows into sandy banks or flat ground, where a simple chamber at the end holds the eggs and chicks. Highly migratory, they arrive in Europe in spring to breed, filling the air with their soft, rolling “prreep” calls, then depart in late summer or autumn to winter in sub-Saharan Africa.
This is a superwash treated DK weight yarn spun from 75% merino wool and 25% nylon for enhanced durability. It is suitable for approximately 4-5mm needles. About 225 metres per 100g skein. This yarn is presented as a skein. If you would like it caked then this paid-for service adds 24h to the dispatch time.