Whitethroated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
FamilyMeropidae (Bee-eaters)
GenusMerops (Typical Bee-eaters)
SpeciesMerops albicollis (Whitethroated Bee-eater)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Volcanoes National Park

1 Verified sightings at Volcanoes National Park From 2019 to 2026

2,464 Verified sightings across all 29 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Whitethroated Bee-eater

The white-throated bee-eater (Merops albicollis) is a species of bee-eater that breeds in semi-desert along the southern edge of the Sahara. The white-throated bee-eater is migratory, wintering in a completely different habitat in the equatorial rain forests of Africa from southern Senegal to Uganda.

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green, but its face and throat are white with a black crown, eye stripe, and neckband. The underparts are pale green shading to blue on the breast. The eye is red and the beak is black.

The white-throated bee-eater can reach a length of 19–21 cm, excluding the two very elongated central tail feathers, which can exceed an additional length of 12 cm. They weigh between 20 and 28 grams. Sexes are alike, except that the male has longer tail feathers. The call is similar to European bee-eater.

White-throated bee-eaters also feed and roost communally. As the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. However, this species probably takes mainly flying ants and beetles... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Volcanoes National Park

Merops oreobates

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Merops apiaster

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Merops pusillus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Corythornis cristatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ceryle rudis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ispidina picta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Megaceryle maxima

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Halcyon senegalensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~60%
2	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
3	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~20%
4	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
5	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
6	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
7	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
8	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
9	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	~10%
10	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
11	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
12	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
13	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
14	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
15	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
16	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
17	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
18	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
19	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
20	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
21	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
22	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
23	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
24	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
25	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
26	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
27	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
28	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
29	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data

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Whitethroated Bee-eater

About the Whitethroated Bee-eater

Recent sightings of Whitethroated Bee-eater in Volcanoes National Park

Closest Relatives at Volcanoes National Park

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

Little Bee-eater

Malachite Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

African Pygmy-Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Woodland Kingfisher

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found