How long do hoopoe eggs take to hatch, and which parent incubates them?
The female incubates the eggs. The typical incubation period is 15–16 days.
Incubation happens inside a cavity, such as a hole in a tree, wall or other structure. While she sits, the female spreads a secretion from her preen gland onto the eggs, which helps protect them (see the question on why hoopoes coat their eggs).
When the chicks hatch they are downy but still fully dependent on their parents. They then spend several more weeks in the nest hole before they fledge.
Sources
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