White-fronted Bee-eater

Afrikaans name: Rooikeelbyvreter

White-fronted Bee-eater

Photo © Steven Herbert

Merops bullockoides

The White-fronted Bee-eater is a beautiful bird with its red throat, black band through the eye bordered with white.

Their diet consits mainly of honey bees but they do catch other insects. They wait on a low perch to fly out and catch their prey often returning to the same perch.

The White-fronted Bee-eater breeds in colonies in sand banks. Breeding pairs have helpers.

Their preferred habitat is savanna and they can often be seen near water courses.

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References and further reading

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 100

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 44

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 126

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 411

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 385

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 381

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 260

List of South African Birds