Least Concern Birds

White-fronted Bee Eater

Merops bullockoides

White-fronted Bee Eater catches flying bees in African savannas near water.

Scientific name	Merops bullockoides
Swahili name	Mchwa mweupe wa mbele
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Coraciiformes
Family	Meropidae
Size	Male: approximately 19-22 cm, weight about 40-50 g; female: similar to male, no significant size difference

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How to identify

White forehead and eyebrow stripe; bright green back and wings; vivid red throat; black eye stripe running through the eye; lower body light orange to cinnamon; tail feathers blue and green

Habitat

Open sparse woodland savannas, valleys, near bushes, commonly found close to water sources

Diet

Primarily feeds on flying insects, especially bees and wasps

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day, especially frequent in foraging during early morning and late afternoon

Where it lives

Mainly distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo Basin, commonly seen in Kenya’s Maasai Mara region

How to spot it

Observe in open areas at dawn or dusk, pay attention to its insect hunting behavior in flight; use binoculars or telephoto lenses to capture flight moments

Photography tips

Use natural light to photograph its vivid plumage colors, telephoto lens to capture hunting actions in flight, choose backgrounds of open sky or green vegetation to highlight the subject

Threats

Habitat destruction and pesticide use leading to prey decline; local disturbances from human activities

Similar species

Green-backed Bee-eater (Merops orientalis), differs in having a less distinct white forehead—white-fronted bee-eater has a more prominent white forehead, while green-backed’s forehead is green or blue-green

📖 how to spot the white fronted bee eater on safari