In Hungary, adults fly to and from the nest tunnel they pecked and scratched into a sandy bank, foraging constantly to feed their ravenous chicks.

Alert: JavaScript must be enabled for this site to function properly.

Please check your browser settings to be sure it is enabled. Also check your security settings. On some browsers, high security settings will disable JavaScript.

National Geographic Prints Store

20% off Fine Art Prints and Photography! Use code NGP2

Galleries

In the Magazine

Current Issue: January 2012

Buy Prints

Would you like to subscribe?

In Hungary, adults fly to and from the nest tunnel they p...

This is for display only! This is NOT the actual print, you will receive!

Hallway Office Wall Living Room Lounge Red Stucco Wall

In Hungary, adults fly to and from the nest tunnel they pecked and scratched into a sandy bank, foraging constantly to feed their ravenous chicks.

Jozsef Szentpeteri/National Geographic Image Collection

1188993

In Hungary, adults fly to and from the nest tunnel they pecked and scratched into a sandy bank, foraging constantly to feed their ravenous chicks.

Any copyright watermarks shown above do NOT appear on prints. The image above is for display purposes only and may appear blurry on your screen. Actual prints are made from high-resolution files for perfect reproduction.

It's more than 4,000 miles from bee-eaters' winter range in southern Africa to their summer breeding grounds in central and eastern Europe, but the birds can span the distance in roughly three weeks, flying as far as 300 miles a day.

A dragonfly has no stinger, but a bee-eater will beat it senseless anyway, the same way it handles its namesake prey.

A male bee-eater displays his catch-a dragonfly-to attract his mate.

Male bee eater leaves perch to find additional prey to court female.

An adult in Romania delivers food inside the nesting chamber.

View Gallery

14 Photos

National Geographic Prints Store

National Geographic Society