These astonishing looking birds seldom allowed close approach. They like to dig in the ground with their long
pick-like bill. They are divided into three groups.
- Eurasian - migratory
- Central African - sedentary
- African - sedentary
Birds in Tanzania are in the African group U. e. africana. They are similar in pattern to Eurasian birds,
but much more rufous in color. Most authorities including Clements and HBW, consider these three groups to be one
species, but IOC elevates the sedentary African group (but not the Central African group) into a separate species,
African Hoopoe (Upupa africana). Clements retains the English name Eurasian Hoopoe for the combined species
even though it includes populations well outside of Eurasia. HBW uses just plain Hoopoe which I think is more
sensible. Hoopoes are in their own family, the Upupidae. They are so different that Sibley and Ahlquist placed
them in their own order, the Upupiformes but most authors consider them part of the Coraciiformes which includes
kingfishers, rollers and bee-eaters.
Nikon P510 Coolpix Point-and-shoot