Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Côte dIvoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania [United Republic of], Togo, Uganda, Yemen (B), Zambia.
Vagrant to Oman, South Africa, United Arab Emirates.
Breeds from Mauritania across to Yemen, and south to north-western Kenya and, erratically, southern Kenya; spends non-breeding season in western Africa and Congo Basin.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis) [XC523311]
by Peter Boesman from Caio, Cacheu, Guinea-Bissau (call, song)
White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis) [XC425357]
by James Bradley from Kiang West, Lower River, Gambia (call)
Nest
In a tunnel of a sandy bank or open flat area. In colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
Clutch Size: 6 - 7
Color: white
Dimensions: (spherical)
Incubation: by both sexes
Subspecies
Has sometimes been placed together with Bohm's Bee-eater (Merops boehmi) in genus Aerops, as both species combine long outer primary with some characters of small Melittophagus group (comprising 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), Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki) and White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides)) and with some features of large Merops species. Systematically rather isolated, with no obvious close relatives; possibly closest to Somali Bee-eater (Merops revoilii). Separation of eastern populations as subspecies major on grounds of longer bill and wings considered unwarranted.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet