Upupa africana
Not many South African people will be unfamiliar with the characteristically beautiful voice of the African Hoopoe, which is found in virtually every corner of our country and over most of Africa south of the equator, and is a familiar garden bird in our towns and cities. Many authorities consider the African Hoopoe to only be a subspecies of the Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops africana), with the IUCN showing the species as being distributed widely over sub-Saharan Africa, the North African Coast, Europe, Arabia and Asia and listing it as being of least concern with a population (though thought to be decreasing) of up to 10-million, without specifying how many might remain in their African or southern African range.
The African Hoopoe may be encountered singly, in pairs or in small family groups. They frequent a variety of natural and man-made habitats, though they reach their highest densities in thorny savannas and woodland. Here they forage on the open ground, probing with their long beaks for worms, insects and their larvae hidden in the soil or among leaf litter and dung, occasionally also eating small reptiles, frogs, seeds and berries.
African Hoopoes form monogamous pairs in the breeding season, which spans spring and summer. They nest in cavities in trees, rock faces or buildings, and clutches may contain up to 7 eggs. The female is solely responsible for incubating the eggs over a 2 week period, though the male is very actively involved in feeding both the female and chicks at the nest. The chicks leave the nest at about a month of age, with some pairs raising as many as three broods in a season!
Adults grow to a length of around 27cm with a wingspan of approximately 45cm and a weight of about 60g.
DeWetsWild 
I like their markings and their silhouette. An interesting bird!
They’re unmistakable in so many ways!
How wonderful that such a familiar bird is so gorgeous!
That really is a special bonus, Alanna! 😀
Another that I would love to one day see in person!
We’ll hold thumbs with you, Kathy!
Beautiful bird.😊 We had a hoopoe here last year, it came birdwatchers from all over the country to see and take pictures of it.
Wonderful to hear that there’s such a growing appreciation for the natural world, John!
Ek het eers nou die dag besef presies hoe wyd verspreid en algemeen hulle regtig is! Twee jaar terug in Bloemfontein het een in ons dak nes gemaak en vir die eerste keer het ek ook gereeld die hoep-hoep geluid gehoor!
Dis n besonderse voorreg dat hul veilig genoeg by jul gevoel het om nes te bou, Liza!
Aha ‘n lekker bekende hierrond!
Mooi foto’s soos altyd
Dankkie, Tina! Jul landgoed se tuine en grasperke is sekerlik n wonderlike plek vir n Hoephoep!
Ja, en lekker rustig
Nog nie een hier gesien nie!! Geseend met ‘n grys reier deesdae. ‘n Grasieuse voël.
n Reier is nie n voel wat sommer enige tuin besoek nie – wat n voorreg, Petru!
Dit is Dries!
I first saw one in the Botanical Gardens in London. I was amazed. I read up on them and discovered that they migrate quite a distance.
Hoopoes are very interesting indeed! The African Hoopoe isn’t a migrating bird and it would be very interesting to look at the reasons why the European Hoopoe migrates over such great distances in comparison!
They are absolutely gorgeous and a favourite with many, I am sure. Thanks for the array of pics. Btw, some years back we first heard and then saw a hoepoe representing the European version (which is almost the same) in the centre of Athens at an ancient temple – what a surprise!
What a wonderful surprise find at the Greek temple, Carol, and great to be able to compare a familiar SA favourite with its northern counterpart!
What a beautiful collection of photographs of these iconic birds! I always feel privileged when they visit my garden.
Thanks, Anne! We love having them in the garden too!
What a funky little bird.
I agree – he’s rocking a rather unique style 🙂
Great to see our Hoopoe is getting some much deserved love!
The Hippie Hoopoe! 😀
🙂
Jy het het goeie foto’s gekry, Dries! Ek sukkel om hulle af te neem omdat hulle so beweeg. Pragtige artikel!
Baie dankie, Dina! Mens kan nie dink dat n voeltjie wat so volop is nogtans so moeilik kan wees om af te neem nie ne!
very unusual and beautiful.
Thanks Gavin!
What a unique looking bird! I’ve read the name but never seen one before. Fascinating.
janet
Glad we could introduce you to our Hoopoe then, Janet!
Interesting looking birds. Still beautiful!
Most certainly, thanks Robert!
What a beautiful bird. ❤️
Glad you like the African Hoopoe, Irene, and welcome here!
I agree it looks and sounds so unusual, I love the zebra stripes!
Very distinctive both in features and call – no confusing the Hoopoe for anything else!
Another beautiful bird! I really like this one!
Glad to know that you do, thanks Deb!
What a beautiful and unusual-looking bird, well to this NZer it seems very unusal anyway! The call it makes is also very unusual, I’ve never heard anything quite like that!
Definitely one of our most like-able birds, Liz – always a pleasure seeing them in the garden!