Mark Cooper

Woodhoopoe violet mass, sexual dimorphism and mantle feathers Mark Cooper

Mean mass measurements of Green Woodhoopoes and Violet Woodhoopoes were compared. Violet Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis was measured and found to differ from Green Woodhoopoe P. purpureus when the culmen, tail, tarsi and wing were held constant. The lighter body mass of Green Woodhoopoe than Violet Woodhoopoes was manifested in flight. Adult female Violet Woodhoopoe were significantly lighter than adult males. The outer iridophore diameters of Green Woodhoopoe P. p. purpureus barbules were smaller than those of Violet Woodhoopoe barbules while inner diameters were similar in both cases. A latitudinal gradient had a strong correlation with outer diameters.