White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
Riverine woodland. Red throat, back, wings and upper tail green; forehead and chin white; nape and breast cinnamon; belly to vent blue.
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. Identified by white forehead and upper throat, red lower throat and dark blue vent. The call is a querulous ‘quirk’ and other similar sounds. It occurs in flocks near rivers with mud banks, where it nests.
Quick Facts
Size
22-24 cm - M
Names
A: Rooikeelbyvreter
Ss: Thlapolome Ya Phatlasweu
G: Weißstirnspint, Weißstirn-Bienenfresser
Bird Family
Colourful, aerial-feeding birds with long decurved bills, many with elongated tail-feathers (absent in immatures). Most occur in flocks, catching flying insects while twisting and turning in graceful aerial manoeuvres or by hawking them from a perch in short aerial sallies, usually returning to the same perch to eat their prey. Immatures are dull versions of the adults. Sexes are alike.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
It occurs in 'flocks' near rivers with mud banks, where it nests.
