Green Woodhoopoe
Phoeniculus purpureus
An elongated, metallic-green-black bird with red feet and a long, decurved, red-orange bill. Juveniles have dark bills but are often in the company of adults. It flies heavily, with the long floppy, white-tipped tail dangling behind. Pairs and groups of up to 14 birds are highly social, occupying savanna, woodland, riverine forest, and gardens, where they nest and roost in natural cavities. Clambers in trees, probing bark and crevices for insects and small vertebrates. They communicate using a strong cackling chatter that sounds maniacal. The almost identical Grant’s and Violet woodhoopoes (with which it sometimes hybridizes) differ from Green Woodhoopoe only by having a coppery-purple (not glossy greenish) metallic sheen.
Identification
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.<p>It advertises its presence with its loud kuk-uk-uk-uk-uk call and other vocalisations.
Taxonomy
In 1784 the English illustrator John Frederick Miller included a hand-coloured plate of the green wood hoopoe in his Icones animalium et plantarum. He coined the binomial name Promerops purpureus and mistakenly specified the type locality as eastern India. The green wood hoopoe is now one of five species placed in the genus Phoeniculus that was introduced in 1821 by the Polish zoologist Feliks Paweł Jarocki.<p>Six subspecies are recognised:<p>The green wood hoopoe is sometimes considered as conspecific with the black-billed wood hoopoe (Phoeniculus somaliensis) and the violet wood hoopoe (Phoeniculus damarensis).
- Scientific name
- Phoeniculus purpureus
- Authority
- (Miller, JF, 1784)
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Family
- Phoeniculidae
- Genus
- Phoeniculus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The green wood hoopoe is an insect-eating species. It feeds mainly on the ground, at 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.<p>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.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Pilherodius pileatus
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Golden-mantled Racquet-tail
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An oddly shaped parrot with two thin tail rackets. Mostly green, with a golden wash on the back of males (absent in females) and a silvery-gray bill. Males show a small red crown patch. Juvenile resembles female, but lacks rackets. Found in pairs and groups in canopy of forest, forest edge, and clearings in lowlands and mountains. Restricted to Sulawesi, Sula, and Talaud islands. The only parrot with rackets in its range, outside of north Sulawesi. In north Sulawesi, where the larger Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail occurs, note Golden-mantled’s lack of a yellow breast patch. Noisy, giving shrill “kleer” notes and a sharp “kip.”
Two-banded Puffbird
Hypnelus bicinctus
Bulky, thick-billed bird of dry and semi-humid forest and scrub, mainly east of the Andes. Plumage is quite striking with white face patch, tan throat, and multiple bands on the underparts. Similar to Russet-throated Puffbird, which is mostly found west and north of the Andes, but always shows two or three bands (not just one), with the upper band wrapping around the throat. Often found in pairs that sit in the open on large branches, fences, and other conspicuous perches before sallying out after a wide variety of prey. Song is a long series of whistles or clucks. Male and female may sing together in a noisy, chaotic duet. Formerly considered a subspecies group of Russet-throated Puffbird.
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