Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania [United Republic of], Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Western Gabon, north-eastern Zaire (Virunga National Park) and north-western Kenya (L Turkana) south to northern and eastern Botswana, Orange Free State and Natal.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) [XC339272]
by Peter Boesman from Kasanka National Park, Northern Province, Zambia (call)
White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) [XC879807]
by Tony Archer from Limpopo River, Botswana (call)
Subspecies
Has been placed with other small, round-winged species lacking tail-streamers in genus Mellitophagus, comprising present species and Blue-headed Bee-eater (Merops muelleri), Black Bee-eater (Merops gularis), Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus), Blue-breasted Bee-eater (Merops variegatus), Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates) and Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki). Forms a superspecies with Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki), with which sometimes treated as conspecific. Birds from southern Tanzanian highlands sometimes separated as subspecies randorum, but differences from other populations very slight. Species name has occasionally been listed as bulockoides, in apparent accordance with spelling of closely related Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki), upon which original name of present species was presumably based; however, these details have no significance for scientific nomenclature, and original spelling must stand.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
bullockoides Smith, 1834 - Gabon to Kenya, south to southern Angola, central South Africa and southern Mozambique.
randorum Clancey, 1953 - Highlands of southern Tanzania.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet