bee-eater

[bee-ee-ter]

noun

1. any of several colorful birds of the family Meropidae, of the Old World tropics, that feed on bees and other insects.

bee-eater

noun

1. any insectivorous bird of the family Meropidae of tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, having a long downward-curving bill and long pointed wings and tail: order Coraciiformes (kingfishers, etc)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bee-eater¹

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

There could also be some sightings of rare visitors such as the exotic European bee-eater, which have recently begun nesting in the UK.

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Three bee-eater birds are believed to have made a historic return to the UK.

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Hatched bee-eater chicks 'indicate climate change'

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This year, bee-eater chicks hatched in a Norfolk quarry - they are usually found in the southern Mediterranean and northern Africa.

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Another posted on Twitter that she had never seen more than one bee-eater in the UK before.

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