| African Hoopoe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Bucerotiformes |
| Family: | Upupidae |
| Genus: | Upupa |
| Species: | Upupa africana |
The African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) is a species of hoopoe formerly considered as a subspecies of the Eurasian Hoopoe although still considered as that by some authorities.
Description[]
The African Hoopoe stands at a length of 25 to 29 cm and a mass of 38 to 67 g. The body plumage is orange, except for the black-and-white wings and tail. On the head, there are orange crest feathers with black tips. The beak is thin and long as typical for hoopoes. It differs from the Eurasian Hoopoe by its richer orange colors on its plumage.
Voice[]
They make the sounds "Hooop-ooop" or "Hooop-ooop-ooop", with all notes usually in the same tone.
Behavior[]
Feeding[]
The African Hoopoe feeds on insects and their larvae, foraging by plunging its beak to the ground multiple times.
Breeding and Nesting[]
The nest is most often in a hollow natural or carved by barbets or woodpeckers. Sometimes, this hoopoe breeds in termite mounds, in a hole in the ground, in walls, building crevices, nesting boxes, etc. The female lays 4-7 eggs and incubates alone for 15–16 days.
Distribution and Habitat[]
Completely sedentary as opposed to the partially migratory Eurasian Hoopoe, the African Hoopoe occurs in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and the southern half of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It inhabits deciduous forests and savannas.