Green Wood Hoopoe
Phoeniculus purpureus
Also known as: Green Woodhoopoe, Red-Billed Wood Hoopoe
Habitat
Mid-canopy
Diet
Invertebrate
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
73 g
About This Species
A social, cooperatively breeding bird of African woodland and savanna, usually seen in noisy family groups probing bark and crevices in the mid-canopy for insects. Its loud, cackling chorus calls, given by several birds at once, often announce a group's presence before it is visible. Groups are active and vocal throughout the year, with peak breeding activity varying by region and rainfall.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Family groups tolerate moderate observation distance while foraging, so there is rarely a need to approach closer than normal viewing range.
- Protection is set by national wildlife law in each of its many range countries and varies accordingly, so specific rules should be checked locally rather than assumed.
- Avoiding disturbance near nest holes, which are reused across seasons by the cooperative group, is worth particular care during breeding.
LCAvesBucerotiformesPhoeniculidae
Seasonal Activity
178,186 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Family
- Phoeniculidae
Traits
- Diet
- Invertebrate
- Foraging
- Mid-canopy
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 73 g
Photo
(c) copper, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by copper
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.