Green wood hoopoe

The green wood hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) is a large, up to 44 cm (17 in) long, near-passerine tropical bird native to Africa. It is a member of the family Phoeniculidae, the wood hoopoes, and was formerly known as the red-billed wood hoopoe.

Green wood-hoopoe
P. p. angolensis in the Matetsi safari area of western Zimbabwe
Chattering calls of P. p. niloticus in the Mtembur area of western Kenya
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Bucerotiformes
Family: Phoeniculidae
Genus: Phoeniculus
Species:
P. purpureus
Binomial name
Phoeniculus purpureus
(J.F. Miller, 1784)

Description

This abundant species is a metallic dark green, with a purple back and very long diamond-shaped purple tail. Distinctive white markings on the wings and white chevrons on the tail edges make it easily identifiable, as does its long, thin, curved red bill. Sexes are similar, but immatures have a black bill.

Food and foraging

The green wood hoopoe is an insect-eating species. It feeds mainly on the ground, termite mounds, or on tree trunks, and forms flocks outside the breeding season. Its specialised claws enable it to cling easily to the underside of branches while closely inspecting the bark for insects.

Calls

This conspicuous bird advertises its presence with its loud kuk-uk-uk-uk-uk call and other vocalisations.

Breeding

The green wood hoopoe is a cooperative breeder and common resident in the forests, woodlands and suburban gardens of most of sub-Saharan Africa. It is found in groups of up to a dozen or so birds with only one breeding pair. The breeding female lays two to four blue eggs in a natural tree hole or old barbet nest and incubates them for about 18 days. On hatching, she and the nestlings are fed by the rest of the group, even after they have fledged and left the nest hole. The group is fearless in defence of the nestlings against intruders. This species is parasitised by the greater and lesser honeyguide.[2]

Status

Widespread and common throughout its large range, the green wood hoopoe is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

  • Chattering family group
  • Chattering and displaying
  • In flight
  • Feeding at aloe flowers in winter
  • Immature fledgling with black bill peeking from old barbet hole
  • P. p. niloticus at Lake Baringo, Kenya

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Phoeniculus purpureus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Roberts Bird Guide (2007)
  • Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
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