Green Woodhoopoe

ORDER: Coraciiformes

FAMILY: Phoeniculidae

GENUS: Phoeniculus

SPECIES: purpureus

DESCRIPTION:

This is the largest, most widespread woodhoopoe (13-15) inches. It has black plumage with highly glossed green and purple feathers above and below. There are vertical white markings along the sides of the wing continuing down the tail. The bill is red and curved. Feet and legs are also red. Males weigh about 20% more than females.

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:

Various types of woodlands especially acacias in Sub-Saharan Africa.

DIET:

Invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetle larvae and spiders.

LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:

The Green Woodhoopoes are arboreal and usually seen in small noisy groups. They protect their territory with loud calls and displays consisting of fanning their wings and tails while swaying. They breed in all months, but primarily in summer. The alpha pair mate and the female nests in a hole in a tree where she lays 2 to 5 eggs. The male and other helpers feed her during the incubation period of 17 to 18 days and then continue to feed the chicks during the nestling period of about 30 days. There is no lining to the nest so it can develop a very strong odor.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:

They often hang upside down while probing cracks in tree bark looking for food with their curved bull. The young bird discharges a foul smelling secretion if handled.

INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION::

Their call is a loud cackling, which starts slowly and then builds to a crescendo with more birds joining in. They seem to be constantly on the move, running around the trunks of trees and hiding behind hanging branches.

OUR ANIMALS:

1 Male. 1 Female. The male (born in 2004) came here from the Houston Zoo in 2006. The female (born in 2004) came here from the Toledo Zoo in 2006.

STATUS IN THE WILD:

They are not threatened and are abundant throughout their range.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1.  Hutchins, Michael, Ed. Grizimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Vol. 10.  p. 65-68.
    2.  Internet: www.birdlife.org.
    3.  Williams, J.G. & Arlott, 1980. Collins Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa.
  Stephen Greene Press.  Lexington, Mass., p. 135 and Plate 14#8.