European Bee-eater song and calls

Birdsong and calls are often the easiest way to identify the European Bee-eater, especially when the bird is hidden in dense foliage. Below is what to listen for.

Song

Not a true song, but a continuous, liquid, and melodious series of 'prruup' or 'prrük' calls, often given in flight or from a perch. It's a distinctive, rolling, and trilling sound.

Calls

The most common call is a soft, rolling 'prruup' or 'prrük', often repeated. Also a sharper 'kip' or 'kik' call when alarmed or interacting.

When they vocalize

Highly vocal, especially during the breeding season and migration. Calls are frequently heard in flight and from perches.

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