The White-fronted Bee-eater
There are various kinds of Bee-eaters that one can find in southern Africa, with some being summer migrants and others local residents. Among them is the White-fronted Bee-eater.
This bird is mainly green with a white and crimson throat, with the white section just below the beak and eyes, which is where the 'White-fronted' name comes from. There is a black stripe running above the white to the eye, almost like an 'eye-liner'. The rump (the section of body of the bird immediately above the tail) appears as a beautiful striking blue. The legs appear to be dark grey. The wings are grass green in colour with black on their tips. It has a longish black bill that is narrow and has dark brown eyes.
The White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) is a rather vocal bird and makes various 'creaking' noises sounding like 'qerrr' or 'querry'. This insect eating bird is distributed quite widely from the South Western parts of Uganda down to southern Africa. It is a locally common resident in Grassland and Savanna areas, and is usually found near rivers and wetlands. Their conservation status indicates that they are not threatened and their range has expanded along rivers and associated irrigation schemes, where they were historically absent.
These Bee-eaters are quite gregarious and have a complex social organisation. A family of these birds consists of one pair, male and female, and up to five helper birds. They form close bonds with other families and together they make a 'clan'. This clan then fearsomely defends its feeding territory against other clans. These birds are almost always in pairs or groups, and are often found perching shoulder to shoulder on branches.
When it comes to feeding, the White-fronted Bee-eater forages within its territory and up to 7 Km from the colony. They search for food as individuals and feed alone, yet they still remain in contact through vocalisation. They glide over an area with expanded wings and easily pick up prey from the ground and grass below. They sometimes even scoop insects off water surfaces. Most of their attempts to catch prey are within 15 metres of the branch they perch on while scanning. The insects are carried back to the perch and beaten against the branch by the Bee-eater whilst in its bill. When stinging bees or wasps are caught they are rubbed against the perch until the sting and venom is discharged. The insect is then tossed into the mouth and swallowed.
Did you know? White-fronted Bee-eaters are typically associated with vertical sandy riverbanks and sometimes dry watercourses, as this is where they build their nests, along eroded gullies, perennial rivers and seasonal streams with wooded banks. They build their nests on the side where the gully is and carve holes in the sand along the embankment. They are also found in woodlands and wooded grasslands and can enjoy bushy pastures.
