African Hoopoe
Upupa africana
About This Species
An unmistakable bird of open woodland, savanna and gardens across sub-Saharan Africa, with a long downcurved bill, pinkish-brown plumage and a black-and-white crest that fans open when the bird is alert or landing. Watch for its distinctive bouncing flight and its habit of probing lawns, bare ground and leaf litter for insect larvae and other invertebrates. Its soft, repeated hoo-hoo-hoo call carries well and often reveals a bird before it is seen on the ground.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Foraging birds on open ground are usually approachable to a moderate distance if movements are slow and unhurried, but sudden approaches tend to flush them quickly.
- Nesting occurs in tree cavities or wall crevices and birds are sensitive to disturbance at the nest, so observe any suspected nest site from a distance rather than approaching it directly.
NEAvesBucerotiformesUpupidae
Seasonal Activity
147,350 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Family
- Upupidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.