The green wood hoopoe is a large, up to 44 cm (17 in) long tropical bird native to Africa. It is a member of the family Phoeniculidae, the wood hoopoes, and was formerly known as the red-billed wood hoopoe.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely from West Africa through Central and East Africa to southern Africa in savanna, woodland, and riverine forests. It favors areas with mature trees that provide cavities for nesting and roosting. Avoids dense closed-canopy rainforest interiors and treeless deserts but uses forest edges, thornveld, and suburban parks with large trees. Often associated with riparian corridors and termite-rich habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The green wood hoopoe is a large, iridescent woodpecker-like bird of sub-Saharan Africa with a long graduated tail and a striking red, decurved bill. It lives in noisy, cooperative groups that chorus loud cackling calls and often breed with helpers. They forage acrobatically on tree trunks and branches, bracing with the tail and probing bark for insects. Formerly known as the red-billed wood hoopoe, it nests in natural cavities and often reuses the same roost sites.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Lives in cohesive groups that defend territories with loud choruses and tail-fanning displays. Cooperative breeding is common, with non-breeding helpers assisting at the nest. Nests in tree cavities, often reusing sites; group members engage in frequent allopreening and communal roosting.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, rolling, cackling series often given antiphonally by the group. Calls carry far and are used for cohesion and territorial advertisement.
Plumage
Glossy, iridescent green to blue-green body with purplish tones and a long, graduated tail; white wing patches visible in flight.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, ants, termites, spiders, and larvae. Occasionally takes small snails or lizards and may sample fruit or nectar opportunistically. Forages by probing under bark, in crevices, and among epiphytes.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on trunks and larger branches of mature trees in woodland, savanna, and riparian gallery forests. Also forages around termite mounds and sometimes on the ground near trees.
