Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
White-headed Wood Hoopoe
Phoeniculus bollei
White-headed Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus bollei) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus bollei) is a member of the Phoeniculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 54.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Bucerotiformes
- Family Phoeniculidae Wood Hoopoes
- Genus Phoeniculus
- Species bollei
Quick facts
- Weight
- 54.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Phoeniculidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus bollei) is a species of bird in the Phoeniculidae family, part of the order Bucerotiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 54.6 g, with a wing length of about 12.9 cm and a tail of around 21.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-headed Wood Hoopoe?
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 54.6 g.
Where does the White-headed Wood Hoopoe live?
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-headed Wood Hoopoe belong to?
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus bollei) belongs to the Phoeniculidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the White-headed Wood Hoopoe eat?
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-headed Wood Hoopoe migrate?
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-headed Wood Hoopoe endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-headed Wood Hoopoe make?
1 real field recording of the White-headed Wood Hoopoe — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-headed Wood Hoopoe's range?
The White-headed Wood Hoopoe has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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