Description:

Large, highly distinctive with multicolored plumage. Has combination of yellow throat and black gorget, turquoise underparts, chestnut crown, nape, mantle and patch in wing-coverts, golden-yellow scapulars, and green tail. Female is slightly paler, with green in scapulars and less chestnut in wing.

Distribution:

Locally common summer visitor to specific locations in Ghizer, Diamer and Skardu districts. Found in the vicinity of lakes and watercourses in valleys with sunny hillsides or muddy cliffs and shrubby riverbanks in semi-desert. Normally at 800-2000m.

Behavior:

Forages from vantage point on tree, wire, making lengthy forays after a passing insect, seizing it after short dashing chase, and bringing it back to the perch. Also frequently hunts for small insects in continuous flight aloft. Relies largely on bumblebees, honeybees and wasps of many families, but takes most other orders of insects as opportune.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of European Bee-eater in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of European Bee-eater

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.