Green wood hoopoe

Introduction: The green wood-hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) inhabit woodlands, riverine forest, valley bushveld and wooded gardens. They are gregarious birds staying in pairs or groups of 3 to 14. dominance hierarchies are established with older birds who usually dominating younger ones. This species roost in tree cavities when daylight remains, leaving just after sunrise.

Distribution: Mainly in eastern, western and central woodlands.

Diet: Mainly insects, spiders, centipedes, frogs and geckos, berries and fruits.

Description: Often confused with violet wood-hoopoe although there are some subtle colouring differences on mantle. It has a most distinctive cackling chorus performed on pre-flight departures.

Breeding: Usually 3 or 4 eggs are laid before and after rains, typiclly between September and November and March and June. Nests consist of unlined cavities in trees, fencepost or hollow structures in buildings. Incubation periods are around 17 to 18 days. Predators include snakes such as the boomslang and common egg-eater and raptors such as the African goshawk.

Size: 32 to 34cm.

Weight: 83g.