AFRICAN HOOPOE
Upupa africana

uZiningweni, umZolozolo (Zulu) Hoephoep (Afrikaans)

HABITAT
Found throughout the whole province of KwaZulu-Natal in savannah, open woodland, thornveld, riverine woodland and gardens.

TYPE
This dove sized bird is a rufus colour with bold black and white barring on the wings and a conspicuous pointed crest which it can erect into a fan shape when alarmed. The long decurved bill is dark horn with a paler base, the eyes are brown and the legs and feet are a yellowish pink.

BREEDING
It nests from July to December using natural holes in ground, termite mound, stone wall, hollow tree. The nest is unlined. It lays 2 to 6 pale blue to olive green eggs and can produce several broods a year.

FOOD
It feeds mainly on insects especially larvae, earthworms, small snakes, frogs and takes termite elates in flight.

STATUS
Sparse to common resident, sometimes nomadic or a seasonal migrant.