Formerly known as the Red-billed Wood Hoopoe, it is a striking example of the diverse and colorful avian life in sub-Saharan Africa’s woodlands. This species embodies the exotic allure of African birdlife with its vivid green plumage, curved red bill, and distinctive purple tail with a diamond-shaped pattern. While its appearance may seem almost too fantastical to be real, the Green Wood Hoopoe is indeed a native of this continent, where it graces the trees with its presence.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Green Wood Hoopoe’s lifestyle is its social behavior. These birds are highly gregarious, typically forming tight-knit groups consisting of several individuals, or even dozens, as they move through the forest canopy in search of food and suitable nesting sites. Despite their arboreal lifestyle, Green Wood Hoopoes are not exclusively tree-dwellers; they are known to descend to the ground to forage for prey, which primarily consists of insects and lizards. Their special claws are well-adapted for grasping onto branches, allowing them to easily navigate the dense foliage.
Within these social groups, a fascinating dynamic unfolds. Unlike many other bird species where hierarchical structures prevail, Green Wood Hoopoe packs are not governed by a single dominant individual. Instead, the dominant pair within the group assumes leadership roles, guiding the collective decisions and movements of the entire flock. This unique social structure sets them apart from many other bird species and speaks to the cooperative and egalitarian nature of their societies—truly a testament to their remarkable intelligence and adaptability.
Despite their seemingly idyllic existence, Green Wood Hoopoes face challenges in the modern world. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation threaten the forests and woodlands they call home, placing pressure on their populations. Additionally, like many other bird species, they are susceptible to the impacts of climate change, which may alter the availability of food and nesting sites.
Distribution
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
