White-fronted Bee-eaters are common across central, eastern and southern Africa and are easily distinguished from other bee-eaters by their red and white throats and square tails. Breeding pairs of White-fronted Bee-eaters mate for life but they are ‘co-operative breeders’ with a complex social organisation. A ‘family’ consists of the breeding pair and up to five helpers, these units then form close ties with four or five other families to create a ‘clan.’ Clans will vigorously defend their feeding territories against other clans. During the breeding season, the mating pair and their helpers will excavate a burrow up to a metre long in sandy riverbank cliffs. These tunnels end in an enlarged oval nesting chamber where the female will lay her eggs. The breeding pair and their helpers will feed the chicks.

White-fronted Bee-eaters feed exclusively on flying insects such as bees, dragonflies, beetles and grasshoppers. They perch on exposed branches, carefully watching for prey; the tail end of stinging bees or wasps is rubbed against the perch until the sting and venom has been discharged.

Acknowledgements to Peter McIntyre for the reference photograph.

Signed Limited Edition Print on 300 GSM Fine Art Cotton Paper from an original watercolour painting. This print is delivered rolled into a tube, ready for framing. Free worldwide shipping.

Limited Edition of 25 Fine Art Prints.

Size: 420mm x 600mm