White-fronted bee-eater

White-fronted bee-eater
In Namibia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Merops
Species:
M. bullockoides
Binomial name
Merops bullockoides
Smith, A, 1834

The white-fronted bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) is a species of bee-eater widely distributed in sub-equatorial Africa.

The species has a distinctive white forehead, a square tail, and a bright red patch on its throat. It nests in small colonies, digging holes in cliffs or earthen banks, and can usually be seen in low trees, waiting to hunt passing insects by making quick hawking flights or gliding down before hovering briefly to catch the prey.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Merops bullockoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22683684A92995705. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683684A92995705.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.