Whitefronted

Whitefronted is a common name element used in the English language for several species that display a white marking on the front part of their body. It is not a taxonomic group, but a descriptive term applied to multiple species across different animal groups, most commonly birds.

In birds, the best-known uses include the greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and the lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus). The greater white-fronted goose is a large migratory goose with Arctic breeding ranges and wintering areas in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The lesser white-fronted goose is a smaller, endangered species that breeds in Arctic Eurasia and winters in more southern latitudes. Another example is the white-fronted bee-eater (Merops bullockoides), an African bee-eater notable for a white throat patch and bright plumage, which inhabits savannas, woodlands, and riverine environments.

The term can appear in other taxa as well, but birds are by far the most common users of the name. The descriptor typically signals a conspicuous white front or facial marking used to distinguish the species from close relatives. While multiple species share the descriptor, they are not closely related beyond common naming conventions and often differ markedly in habitat, behavior, and distribution.