Green (Red Billed) Wood Hoopoe. by kgb224
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Description
A find captured yesterday at Jan Cilliers Park when walking around and hiding behind a tree.Blessed day and weekend. Today is me and my wife's sixth wedding anniversary. God Bless.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Wood_Hoopoe
Green (Red Billed) Wood Hoopoe.
The Green Wood Hoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus, is a large, up to 44cm long, near-passerine tropical bird native to Africa. It is a member of the family Phoeniculidae, the wood hoopoes, and is formally known as the Red-billed Wood Hoopoe.
The Green Wood Hoopoe is a common resident breeder in the forests, woodlands and suburban gardens of most of sub-Saharan Africa. They are found in groups of up to a dozen or so birds with only one breeding pair. The breeding female lays two to four blue eggs in a natural tree hole or old barbet nest and incubates for about 18 days. Upon hatching, she and the nestlings are fed by the rest of the group, even after they have fledged and left the nest hole. This species is parasitised by the Greater and Lesser Honeyguide. [1]
This abundant species is a metallic dark green, with a purple back and very long diamond-shaped purple tail. Distinctive white markings on the wings and white chevrons on the tail edges make it easily identifiable, as does its long thin curved red bill. Sexes are similar, but immatures have a black bill.
The Green Wood Hoopoe is an insect-eating species. It feeds mainly on the ground, termite mounds, or on tree trunks, and will form flocks outside the breeding season.
This conspicuous bird also advertises its presence with its loud Kuk-uk-uk-uk-uk call and other vocalisations.
Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Green Wood Hoopoe is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Comments (18)
Pretty bird! Congratulations on your anniversary!
A perfect bill for the purpose! A very good pic, Christo.
Super shot, not seen one of these before Christo. Have a good weekend.
Wonderful capture Christo. I have just returned from a 2 week holiday in Amanzimtoti and we went to the Umgeni Bird Park. I saw these beauties there too but they were too quite for me to get a decent image! Well done.
Super shot of this beautiful bird ; thanks for the informations.
great image mate love the colours and have a great wedding anniversary, Geoff.
congrats to you both ! and have a nice day too ! it's a very beautiful bird like his colors !!
Great bird. Hope you and your wife have a wonderful day.
wonderful bird, great foto, colors and details
A picture with wonderful colors... thank you for the interesting information ! Excellent upload ! :~)
a beautiful bird!!!!! WONDERFUL shot!!!!!
Congratulations on your anniversary! Very beautiful bird and picture !
What a nice little bird!! great shot!!
very nice pic, great shot
A super capture and his bill goes so well with the flower.
Their colorful beaks my friend. Congratulations and many thanks for sharing ((5 + +)) Très coloré leurs bec mon ami . Bravo et mille mercis de partager ((5++))
Great macro Christo!
This is excellent Christo; LOVE your many bird photos!