Guy Edwardes / Little bee-eater (Merops pusillus) vocalising whilst perched on branch, Khwai, Botswana.

Andres M. Dominguez / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, southern Spain, July.

Bence Mate / Eurasian bee eater (Merops apiaster) dust bathing in sand, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May.

Bence Mate / European bee eaters (Merops apiaster) one taking off another perched, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. May.

Wim van den Heever / White-fronted bee-eaters (Merops bullockoides) perched near to nesting holes Chobe National Park, Botswana.

Wim van den Heever / Little bee eaters (Merops pusillus) two, with one landing on branch with a fly in its beak. Okavango Delta, Botswana

Roger Powell / Pair of European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) on a bank above their nest hole in front of flowers. Note regurgitated pellets of insect remains. Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with a bee landing on a branch by its mate. Alentejo, Portugal, May.

Roger Powell / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) courting a female by offering her a Small Copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas). Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Richard Du Toit / Burchell's Zebra (Equus burchellii) and Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus) as passenger, Savuti, Chobe National Park, Botswana

Graeme Guy/ BIA / Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) trio with insect prey, Penang, Malaysia

Graeme Guy/ BIA / Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) pair, Penang, Malaysia

Thomas Hinsche/ BIA / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair squabbling, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Thomas Hinsche/ BIA / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Graeme Guy / Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) male, Penang, Malaysia

Graeme Guy / Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) pair, Penang, Malaysia

Konrad Wothe / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) presents prey item to potential mate, Bulgaria

Konrad Wothe / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) trio calling, Bulgaria

Guy Edwardes / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair, Bulgaria, May.

Hermann Brehm / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with dragonfly prey, Hungary. June

Hermann Brehm / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with dragonfly prey, Hungary. June

Hermann Brehm / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with butterfly prey, Hungary. June

Hermann Brehm / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) nuptial gift of insect prey, Hungary. June

Hermann Brehm / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with butterfly prey, Hungary. June

Hermann Brehm / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair mating, Hungary. June

Hermann Brehm / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) male offering wasp as nuptial gift, Hungary. June

Oscar Dewhurst / Green bee-eater (Merops orientalis) pair perched on branch, facing opposite directions. Karnataka, India.

Steven David Miller / Rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus), three perched on branch between flight forays to catch insects. Parry Creek, Wyndham, The Kimberley, Western Australia.

Paul Hobson / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair perched on branch looking in opposite directions, another pair in background. Hungary. May.

Paul Hobson / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), two in conflict, perched on branch. Hungary. May.

Pedro Narra / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) two, one eating bumblebee, Sado Estuary, Portugal. May

Pedro Narra / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) two perched, one stretching, Sado Estuary, Portugal. May

Pedro Narra / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) Sado Estuary, Portugal. April

Pedro Narra / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) squabbling, Sado Estuary, Portugal. April

Pedro Narra / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair mating, Sado Estuary, Portugal. May

Pedro Narra / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) Sado Estuary, Portugal. May

Pedro Narra / European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) mating. Sado Estuary, Portugal. May

Pedro Narra / European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) courtship, Sado Estuary, Portugal. April

Steven David Miller / Rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus) resting on branch between foraging flights. Kununurra, Western Australia.

Andy Rouse / Eurasian bee-eater, (Merops apiaster), landing on twig, Bulgaria, June.

Andy Rouse / Eurasian bee-eater, (Merops apiaster), with bee prey, Bulgaria, June.

Andy Rouse / RF - Eurasian bee-eater, (Merops apiaster), in colony, Bulgaria

Andy Rouse / RF - Eurasian bee-eater, (Merops apiaster), in colony, Bulgaria

Mike Read / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair mating on a branch one with an insect, Tiszaalpar, Kiskunsag National Park, Hungary, May.

Mike Read / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pair perched on a branch near Tiszaalpar, Kiskunsag National Park, Hungary, May.

Andres M. Dominguez / Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with Bumblebee prey, Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, southern Spain, July.

Andy Rouse / Green bee-eater (Merops orientalis) flying, Ranthambhore, India.

Yashpal Rathore / Blue-tailed bee-eater (Merops philippinus) sitting near nest holes on riverbank, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka, India.