# Green Wood Hoopoe (*phoeniculus purpureus*) The Green Wood Hoopoe has shiny green feathers and a long, curved beak. These birds love to hop around on the ground looking for insects to eat! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Tropical and subtropical forests in Africa - **Also known as:** African Hoopoe, Green Hoopoe, Wood Hoopoe ![Green Wood Hoopoe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phoeniculus_purpureus_-South_Africa-8a.jpg&width=800) Photo: hyper7pro from Secunda, South Africa, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phoeniculus_purpureus_-South_Africa-8a.jpg) ## Appearance The Green Wood Hoopoe has a stunning iridescent metallic green body, often shimmering with blue and purple hues. It features a long, thin, decurved bright red bill and red legs. Its long, graduated tail helps distinguish it from similar birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Bucerotiformes - **Family:** Phoeniculidae - **Genus:** Phoeniculus ## Interesting facts - A group of Green Wood Hoopoes is sometimes called a "chatter"! - These birds often hang upside down on branches while foraging! - They use their stiff tail feathers like a prop while climbing trees. - They usually nest inside old tree cavities, like abandoned woodpecker holes. ## Special abilities - **Laughing Call:** Green Wood Hoopoes can make loud, cackling calls because of their specialized vocal cords, which helps them communicate within their groups. - **Tree Climber:** Green Wood Hoopoes have strong claws and a stiff tail that helps them cling vertically to tree trunks while searching for hidden insects. - **Probe Beak:** Green Wood Hoopoes have a long, slender, curved bill because of their adaptation to probe deep into bark crevices and extract insects. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 34-40 cm - **Wingspan:** 38-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.057-0.082 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 17-18 days ## Diet & Feeding These agile birds expertly find and feast on insects and other small creatures hidden in tree bark. - **Primary Foods:** beetles, larvae, termites, ants, spiders, small lizards - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** African Goshawk (*Accipiter tachiro*) — A predator in its natural range. - **Depends on:** Cardinal Woodpecker (*Dendropicos fuscescens*) — Often uses its abandoned nest holes. - **Eats:** Natal Snouted Termite (*Macrotermes natalensis*) — A common food source. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green Wood Hoopoe? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Green Wood Hoopoe? 34-40 cm ### What is Green Wood Hoopoe's wingspan? 38-45 cm ### How much does Green Wood Hoopoe weigh? 0.057-0.082 kg ### How long does Green Wood Hoopoe live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Green Wood Hoopoe move? 35 km/h ### What does Green Wood Hoopoe eat? These agile birds expertly find and feast on insects and other small creatures hidden in tree bark. ### Where is Green Wood Hoopoe usually found? Tropical and subtropical forests in Africa ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Green Wood Hoopoe: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-wood-hoopoe)