Phoeniculus bollei
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus bollei) is a striking, medium-sized avian resident of Africa's dense forests. Measuring approximately 34-39 cm in length and weighing 54-73 grams, it stands out with its pristine white head, a stark contrast to its iridescent dark green or blue-black body. Key field marks include its vivid white crown, nape, and face, complemented by a long, slender, decurved bill typically bright red with a darker tip. The tail is long and graduated, often displaying...
This species primarily inhabits tropical lowland and montane rainforests, gallery forests, and sometimes mature secondary forests, favoring mid-story to canopy layers up to 3,000 meters in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, their diet consists mainly of beetles, ant larvae, caterpillars, and spiders, which they extract by probing bark and crevices.
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is a highly social, diurnal species, typically found foraging and moving in noisy family groups of 3 to 12 individuals. These groups often roost communally in tree cavities at night, maintaining close bonds. Their primary foraging strategy involves meticulously gleani...
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is a resident species found across a discontinuous range in West and Central Africa, with several recognized subspecies. In West Africa, its distribution extends from Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire through Ghana and Nigeria. Further east, populations are found in Cameroon,...
Least Concern
- White-headed Wood Hoopoes are cooperative breeders, meaning a dominant pair is assisted by other group members, often their offspring, in raising young. - Their iridescent plumage can shift from green to blue to purple depending on the light, making them visually stunning. - They possess a uniq...