Kloof Conservancy
This is a colorful bird and one that easily attracts attention. Apart from its striking iridescent plumage and scimitar-shaped, bright red beak and legs, it also makes a lot of noise and lets you know it is around. Its noisy character is reflected in its Afrikaans name, Rooibekkakelaar, which translates to red-beaked cackler. One of its isiZulu name, iNhlekabafazi, is equally descriptive, if not a bit irreverent. It roughly means the raucous laughter of women. There is no other similar bird in our area, so they are relatively easy to identify.
Description
These birds (Phoeniculus purpureus) are between 22cm and 38cm in length and have a slender appearance as a result of a fairly lengthy tail. They are mainly a fluorescent green/purple colour that, in dull light, may appear black. The tail feathers are tipped with white.
Distribution
They resident birds are found across most of South Africa, except the dry regions in the south-west and the Cape Fynbos area. They also occur in many parts of Africa south of the Sahara, from south Sudan through to Senegal, down to southern Africa, but not in the rain forests of Central Africa.
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Habitat
They prefer woodland areas, riverine forests and the forest fringe areas. Occasionally, they can also be found in savanna areas or bushveld thickets such as the areas of Kwa-Ximba near Cato Ridge.
Feeding
They feed primarily on insects, larvae, spiders, small lizards and frogs and will occasionally also feed on berries, seeds and nectar. Most of the feeding is done by probing the bark of trees where they can be often seen very busily hopping around from one tree trunk to another. They do occasionally feed on the ground and will also take insects in flight.
Breeding
They are a monogamous species and nests are built in naturally formed holes in tree trunks or in abandoned barbet or woodpecker nests. The may also nest in a building cavity. The breeding female usually lays two to four eggs that she incubates for about 18 days. Once the chicks hatch, they are fed by the entire family group. The groups are very social and caring for each other and the feeding continues even after the chicks have fledged.
Predators
They are vulnerable to attack by raptors as they are not the best of fliers. Nests also get raided by snakes, particularly boomslangs. Members of the group will mob any predator to defend their roosting site.
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Threats
This is not a threatened species as populations are healthy in the areas they do occur. Threats do occur when land is cleared or in parts of Africa where deforestation is occurring as they rely heavily on trees for roosting and nesting.
Local information
They are found throughout the Highway area but more common in well-wooded gardens and the many riverine forests in our area.
Interesting facts
This species is quite gregarious and live in small groups of three to 14 individuals, with a dominant breeding pair. When different groups meet, they sometimes start an unusual “flag waving” display that involves waving a piece of bark or other natural material while swaying backwards and forwards and “cackling” loudly.
The long-curved beak is a distinguishing feature and they use them to good effect to probe loose bark loose in search of food. The males have slightly longer beaks than females
Wood-hoopoes are part of the Phoeniculidae family. The name originates from the Greek phoenix, the mythical bird that flew to Egypt every 500 years to be reborn.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
