Madagascar Hoopoe

## About

A Madagascar hoopoe.

The Madagascar hoopoe ***(Upupa marginata)*** is an old world bucerotiform bird native to Madagascar. Madagascar hoopoes are covered in a tawny orange-brown plumage with a pronounced black-tipped crest, black and white barred wings, a long black tail and a lighter tan plumage on their underside, all characteristic features of the hoopoes of the upupidae family. Compared to the African hoopoe ***(Upupa africana)***, the Madagascar hoopoe is larger and possesses a noticeably longer tail and pinker throat. Small differences in plumage and vocalisation from other hoopoes, particularly the Eurasian hoopoe ***(Upupa epos)***, differentiate the species among its family, originally being the reason for the Madagascar hoopoe being considered specific from the Eurasian hoopoe in the first place. Some taxonomists however, still retain that the three hoopoe species are conspecific. Madagascar hoopoes grow to a length of 32cm (12.6in) and can weigh from 57-91g (2-3oz).

## Diet

The Madagascar hoopoe is an insectivorous species which uses its long thin bill to probe soft soil, leaf litter and crevasses in order to hunt. They eat a variety of beetles, flies and their collective larvae, grasshoppers, caterpillars as well as some arachnids.

## Conservation Status

The Madagascar hoopoe is a species of least concern by the IUCN. and does not face many threats if any at all. The adverse effects of deforestation, such as the creation of wide-open grasslands and savannas has actually improved and increased the abundance of the population in the central and eastern plateaus of Madagascar.

## Range and Population

A widespread species, the Madagascar hoopoe is abundant throughout the island and occurs in open arid areas such as forest outskirts, shrublands, grasslands, savannas and clearings. They also inhabit the spiny and deciduous forests unique to Madagascar. The population is stable and known to be increasing in the species' central and eastern ranges however, the exact number of mature individuals is unknown.

## Behaviour

The Madagascar hoopoe is a monogamous species which mates with a single mate between the months of August-December, with the height of species breeding occurring in October and November. The male will chase the female to initiate courtship before feeding her on the ground. mating may also occur on the ground, but can occur in a tree. The male will then find a cavity to create a nest in for the female's eventual clutch, which is typically a height of 1.5-3m (4.9-10ft) above the ground. A clutch is laid in the nest which is comprised of leaves and stems. The clutch is comprised of up to six greyish-blue eggs with occasional brown markings. They will hatch in 15-16 days, with the hatchlings first flying in 26-32 days. Both parents will feed the young. It is said that a hoopoe nest of any species is incredibly foul smelling. This is because mother birds coat their young in an antimicrobial secretion which wards off parasites and predators, which happens to smell of rotting flesh. Additionally, the nest will be covered by the waste of the chicks, which they use as another defense mechanism against predators. In communication, the Madagascar hoopoe is distinguished from other hoopoes by their trilling "*rrrooowwww*" call, which differs from the usual "*hoop-hoop-hoop*" of other species. When courting, the male will communicate to the female through raising of his crest. If disturbed while feeding, the hoopoe will fly to a high branch and rapidly raise and lower their crest while flashing their wings.

### Relationship with Humans

The Madagascar hoopoe has no significant relationship with humans.

## In Captivity

There are no Madagascar hoopoes in captivity.

## Sources

* Madagascar Hoopoe | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar\_hoopoe
* Madagascar Hoopoe | Oiseaux Birds - https://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-madagascan-hoopoe.html
* Madagascar Hoopoe | Birdlife International Datazone - http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/madagascar-hoopoe-upupa-marginata
* Madagascar Hoopoe | Ebird - https://ebird.org/species/madhoo1
* The Hoopoe's Smelly Family | BirdNote - https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/hoopoes-smelly-family