Learning About Africa’s Birds

Birds

Birds have been around since the dinosaurs and fill a variety of roles in African ecosystems, including large predators like the fish eagle, scavengers like the vulture, and helpful sidekicks like the oxpecker. Africa is the world’s second largest continent and home to an incredible variety of bird life. South Africa is … Read more

Scimitar-billed Wood Hoopoe (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas)

Scimitar-billed Wood Hoopoe

It is a long, matte bird renowned for its slender, greatly-decurved black bill. This bird species avoids forests and thrives in arid, densely-leaved woodlands singly or in pairs. Most of the time, they shin around trunks, foraging for invertebrates, sometimes joining other mixed-species groups. It is easily detected through its wistful, whistled … Read more

Green Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus)

Red-billed Wood hoopoe

It is a long, metallic green-and-black bird with a distinct elongated, retrorse, red-orange bill, and red feet. This bird is a hefty flier, with its lengthy, saggy, white-tipped tail swinging loosely while in flight. Pretty gregarious, pairs and small flocks of up to 14 individuals can be seen thriving in woodlands, savannas, … Read more