Merops bullockoides
White-fronted Bee-eaters inhabit wooded grasslands and savannas, mostly near large rivers or other reliable water bodies, where they feed mainly on flying insects caught on the wing – most notably honey bees, which make up about ¾ of their diet. They weigh between 30 and 40g.
White-fronted Bee-eaters have a complex and interesting social system. They roost and nest colonially (colonies can number between 20 and 300 birds), requiring large sandbanks in which to dig their tunnels, and will also utilise quarries and erosion ditches for this purpose. Each colony is made up of several distinct groups, known as clans, within which there are between 3 and 6 families made up of a monogamous breeding pair (mating for life) and between 1 and 5 non-breeding birds, usually offspring from previous broods, that will assist their parents to raise a brood. Breeding reaches a peak in spring and early summer. Nesting tunnels are 1-1.5m long with a chamber at the end and dug by both parents and their helpers at the onset of the breeding season. Females lay between 2 and 5 eggs, and cases have been noted of unattached females lying eggs in the nests of unrelated birds when they are not at their post. The eggs are incubated for three weeks by both parents and helpers, and the chicks then fledge at between 3 and 4 weeks old, after which their parents start teaching them to hunt.
The IUCN views the White-fronted Bee-eater as being of least concern, with a widespread, common and increasing population. In South Africa the species is distributed over most of the Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga and a few locations in the Northern and Eastern Cape into which it appears they are expanding their range of late. Outside of our borders, these bee-eaters are found in a wide area of East and Central Africa, avoiding the arid regions in the south-west.
DeWetsWild 
Such a cute bird 😄
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Perfectly suited to its roll in nature!
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He’s such a pretty little guy! Too bad his primary diet is now considered politically incorrect with the whole save-the-bees movement 😉
On the other hand, I would really welcome a couple of them here if they would add wasps to their diet! I’d even give them room and board over the winter 🙂
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Can you imagine the protesters with their placards picketing outside a bee-eater colony!
😀
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LOL – talk about exercises in futility!
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Ditto!!! 🙂
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Seems the bee-eaters are a hit!
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pretty birds.
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They’re very pretty indeed, Imelda, and so busy!
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What a beautiful, colorful bird!
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Indeed, thanks Montucky!
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I don’t think I have seen any bee-eaters in KZN. Are they found in the KZN game reserves? I haven’t been to any game reserve for so long that I can’t remember.
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The SABAP2 distribution map shows that they are common especially north of Durban, Kim:
http://sabap2.adu.org.za/species_info.php?spp=409#menu_left
We’ve seen them at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, uMkhuze, Ithala, Cape Vidal and St. Lucia.
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Ok, I haven’t been very far north of Durban for ages. I’ll have a look next time I visit my sister in the Midlands and see if I see any.
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You should also look out for the Little Bee-eater in the Midlands, Kim. They’re much smaller than the White-fronted, and real busy-bodies!
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It´s a very beautiful bird, so colorful. 🙂 You always take pictures so you can see the birds from all directions, which is much appreciated. 🙂
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Thanks for being as kind as always, John!
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A very colorful bird. Some birds who have the same colors but with a shinier sheen to the feathers, however, gives people the impression that they are more colorful than this one. I think that it is just as colorful, and it really doesn’t matter how bright the colors are. They are still wonderful birds.
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I think it is there interesting behaviour, even more than there colours, that make them such a joy to watch!
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I agree.
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they are so beautiful.
I’ve only ever seen them on TV.
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Another reason to come visit us on this side of the Indian Ocean, Gavin!
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They almost look like a very small toucan. Pretty bird!
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You’re right, Lois – I never even saw the resemblance!
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It’s a colorful, beautiful bird. I am glad it’s considered least concern.
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Thanks, Hien!
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Colorful head and quite a long beak.
janet
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That beak is a bee’s worse nightmare!
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That’s an amazing looking bird. I envy you a little that you’ve such abundant wildlife. Maybe I should do a poetry series on African wildlife. 🙂
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There is no denying that we’re blessed to have such easy access to amazing African wildlife.
Welcome here!
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