African Hoopoe
Afrikaans name: Hoephoep
An African Hoopoe with its crest down
Upapa africana
The African Hoopoe is a common and distinctive bird that is found over large portions of Africa, Asia and Europe.
Male and female are similar.
The call of the bird was responsible for its name.
African Hoopoes are found in open areas in woodland, savanna, gardens and other suitable habitats. My personal feeling is that it used to be far more common in gardens that it is currently and I wonder if the use of insecticides in the garden hasn't contributed to its modern-day scarcity in gardens.
Hoopoes mainly eat insects and small reptiles. Its long curved bill is ideal for digging around in the soil. They may beat their prey on the ground to kill it or break it up into smaller pieces.
Pairs of African Hoopoes establish a territory in which to breed. They make a nest in a hole in a tree. In some parts of the world they lay up to 12 eggs, but the normal clutch size is around 4 to 7. These are tended to by the female.
Roberts Birds Names by Edition
Edition | Roberts nr | Scientific name |
---|---|---|
1st | 418 | Upupa africana africana |
2nd | 418 | Upupa africana |
3rd | 418 | Upupa africana |
4th | 418 | Upupa africana |
5th | 451 | Upupa epops |
6th | 451 | Upupa epops |
7th | 80 | Upupa africana |
Edition | Roberts nr | English name |
---|---|---|
1st | 418 | African Hoopoe |
2nd | 418 | African Hoopoe |
3rd | 418 | Hoopoe |
4th | 418 | African Hoopoe |
5th | 451 | Hoopoe |
6th | 451 | Hoopoe |
7th | 80 | African Hoopoe |
Edition | Roberts nr | Afrikaans name |
---|---|---|
1st | 418 | Afrikaanse-hop |
2nd | 418 | Hoephoep |
3rd | 418 | Hoephoep |
4th | 418 | Hoephoep |
5th | 451 | Hoephoep |
6th | 451 | Hoephoep |
7th | 80 | Hoephoep |
References and further reading
Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 58Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 128
The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 52
Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 47
Wild Issue 40 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 76
Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 173
The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 170
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 270
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 148
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 260
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 388
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 391
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 298
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 222
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 283
Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 46
Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 58
Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 2
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 256
Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 69
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 256
Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 25
Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 186
Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 57
Gardening with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1988 - Page: 57
Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 72
Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 49
Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 183
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 120
Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 158
Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 18
Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 49
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 38
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 151
Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 139
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 77
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 57
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 167
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 136
Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 96
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 102
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 102
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 181
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