They usually forage in trees, but this one was picking between the path flagstones at our lodge. They are astonishing looking, long tailed birds with flickering iridescent plumage that varies with the light. Woodhoopoes are in their own family, the Phoeniculidae. This is an adult. Immatures have dark bills. Differs subtly from Violet Woodhoopoe in Green's glossy-greenish, not coppery-purple metallic sheen. This is the lager subspecies "P. p. angolensis" characterized by larger white primary spots. Often spelled "Wood Hoopoe" with or without a hyphen, and formerly known as Red-billed Wood-Hoopoe.
