The Cape Bird Club
Bird Ringing - Hoopoe observations by Peter Nupen.
photograph by Peter Nupen
A male Hoopoe at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, Hermanus.
The first photo above taken in 2003, is of a male Hoopoe. Please note the rich chestnut brown colouration on the hind neck and back. More importantly, however, are the lack of black wing bars, giving a clear white window in the wing.
photograph by Peter Nupen
A female Hoopoe at the De Hoop Nature Reserve.
The second photo taken in September 2004, is of a Hoopoe female. Note the washed out brown colouration on the hind neck and back of this bird. NOW, note that the female has a complete set of black bars in her wings.
photograph by Peter Nupen
A male Hoopoe at the De Hoop Nature Reserve.
The third photo also taken in September 2004 is of a Hoopoe male, re-enforcing the differences of wing pattern and colour between the male and female Hoopoes.
Peter also mentions very importantly, please note that the
African Hoopoe
( Upupa africana ) HAS NO WHITE SPOTS towards the end of its primary feathers, as can be seen
in all three photos.
These white spots occur in the European Hoopoe ( Upupa epops ).
European Hoopoe ( Upupa epops )
from Book of British Birds by Readers Digest published 1969.
The illustration given in Sasol, Birds of Southern
Africa, Third Edition is
incorrect, being epops, and NOT of africana.
Peter remarks "a mistake that I hope will be corrected in the future, and one that will not be carried forward into
Roberts V11".
