Thursday 13 December 2012

African hoopoe.

African Hoopoe's can be found in most gardens in southern Africa. Normal habitat is open woodland with short grass underneath. Suburban lawns have created the ideal habitat for them. Worms, beetles and other insects make up their diet.

Click to enlarge.


African Hoopoe, (Upupa africana). Their name comes from their call, a long hoop-poo.


The crest is usually kept flat as in the first photo, except when the bird is landing, alarmed, or excited as in the photo above, as it spots the next course for breakfast.


A sudden stab with that long beak and an earthworm becomes part of the breakfast menu.

2 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Cool bird and great shots! I would love to see the Hoopoe someday!

Mark Kautz said...

It seems strikingly similar in its traits to the Red Brested Robin. Is the Hoopoe a bird that shows up in the spring?