Premium
A STUDY OF THE AFRICAN HOOPOE *.
Author(s) -
Skead. C. J.
Publication year - 1950
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1950.tb03007.x
Subject(s) - nest (protein structural motif) , brood , seasonal breeder , biology , zoology , ecology , biochemistry
Summary. 1. Hoopoes scarce and silent from Jan. to mid‐March. 2. Small parties then foregather. From mid‐April there is much jostling and pooping until breeding starts in August. 3. Male courts female by giving her tit‐bits of food. 4. Birds maintain a feeding territory in breeding season, and are restless, rather than migratory, thereafter. 5. Female remains in nest from commencement of egg‐laying and is fed there by the male; but she does emerge to feed herself too. 6. Incubation period about 17 days. 7. Male continues to feed young after the hatch. 8. Female remains in nest‐hole for about seven days, taking food from the male at entrance to feed young. Also emerges to feed herself at times. 9. After the seventh day both birds share chick‐feeding, the young coming to the entrance to take food on the eleventh day. 10. Nestling periods vary from 26 to 32 days. Chicks of the same brood do not always emerge from the nest of the same day. Those remaining are still fed by the adults. 11. Both adults feed young in post‐nestling period. 12. The species is double‐ and possibly treble‐brooded. 13. Nest sanitation primitive. 14. Three individuals recorded as having taken part in a nesting attempt. 15. The well‐known “poop” call is made by the male only. Other calls described.