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Birds
African hoopoe
African hoopoe · Upupa africana
The African hoopoe delights with its crest and unique pattern – a real highlight for ground observers in open landscapes.
Fact file
- Size
- Around 25 centimetres long, weighs about 50 grams
- Males and females
- Females are slightly paler, males more intensely coloured
- Sounds
- Typical three-syllable call, sounds like "hupu-hupu-hupu"
- Diet
- Preys mainly on insects and other invertebrates in the ground
- Offspring
- Lays 4 to 7 eggs, which are incubated exclusively by the female
How to identify African hoopoe
The African hoopoe stands out immediately thanks to its distinctive crest. This is rusty brown with black tips, is raised when the bird is excited and gives it a unique appearance. The plumage is overall a warm rusty brown, while the wings and tail show a characteristic black-and-white pattern that is also striking in flight.
With a body length of around 25 centimetres the African hoopoe is compactly built. Its long, thin and slightly curved bill is ideal for extracting food from the ground. In profile the bird appears slender, and the conspicuous crest gives it an unmistakable silhouette.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
Where African hoopoe live
Namibia
South Africa
Discover African hoopoe on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
