Common Scimitarbill
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Woodland & thornveld. Told by very curved black beak.
Wood Hoopoes
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Fairly common woodland resident. Smaller than [Violet Wood Hoopoe] and [Green Wood Hoopoe], the bill more decurved and black and the tail shorter. Female and immature have brownish throats and breasts. During summer calls ‘pwep-pwep-pwep-pwep…’ at half-second intervals. Solitary or in pairs in dry, well-developed, broad-leaved woodland and thornveld. Feeds in large trees, clambering about the outer branches. Quieter, less conspicuous than [Green Wood Hoopoe].
Quick Facts
Size
24-28 cm - M
Names
A: Swartbekkakelaar
Z: unosungulo
Ss: Sebodu
G: Sichelhopf
Bird Family
Glossy, dark blue-green birds with long graduated tails, long decurved bills and short legs. They clamber about on tree trunks and branches, probing with their bills in search of insects. They also investigate weaver and sparrow nests and may throw out eggs or small chicks while doing so. They nest in tree cavities. Flight patterns are diagnostic.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
