©Amy Shutt Photography

Zazu – Greenwood Hoopoe

Zazu is one of the favorite residents at Wings of Hope. He is nested in the Educational Center of the sanctuary, and you may have to wear ear plugs when visiting him because he loves to talk to you and talk loudly he does! Zazu has a genetic defect with his feet and cannot be released back into the wild. The Green Wood Hoopoe is a large, up to 44 cm long, tropical bird native to Africa.The Green Wood Hoopoe is a common resident breeder in the forests, woodlands and suburban gardens of most of sub-Saharan Africa. This abundant species is a metallic dark green, with a purple back and very long diamond-shaped purple tail. Distinctive white markings on the wings and white chevrons on the tail edges make it easily identifiable, as does its long thin curved red bill. This conspicuous bird also advertises its presence with its loud Kuk-uk-uk-uk-uk call and other vocalizations. Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Green Wood Hoopoe is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Source: Wikipedia