The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a beautiful and charismatic summer bird that belongs to the order Bucerotiformes and the family Upupidae. It is present in much of the Old World, with the exception of Madagascar, where another species, Upupa marginata (according to some authors) is found. Its head feathers, distributed in the form of a plume, make it unique, and its flight can be reminiscent of that of a large butterfly, because, unlike other birds, it flies in an erratic and undulating fashion. If you want to know more about the hoopoe, read on!
Origin
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
Characteristics of the Hoopoe
" At first glance, the most distinctive feature of the hoopoe is its ocher colored crest with black tips. The rest of the body is tawny in color, while the tail and wings have black and white stripes. It is a medium-sized bird, about 27 cm tall and with a wingspan of 47 cm. Its beak is long and slightly downward sloping (i.e. slightly curved). As already mentioned, its flight is erratic and undulating, which, together with its colorful plumage, makes it a very elegant bird. Its striking up-up-up song is the origin of the species name. Another of its incredible characteristics is the presence of a stink gland at the base of its tail, which allows it to produce a secretion that helps it ward off predators."
There are 9 described subspecies, the most common being Upupa epops epops. Some studies also describe Upupa marginata as another subspecies of hoopoe, but it is generally considered a separate species.
Habitat of the Hoopoe
The Hoopoe is typical of dry regions where it inhabits forest clearings, planting areas, such as vineyards and other orchards and in fields as well as steppes and grassland areas. It prefers areas below 1000 m altitude, as well as natural or artificial pastures and savannahs. It is found in our neighbors in Spain, where it lives throughout the peninsula, with the exception of the Cantabrian strip, as it prefers the Mediterranean climate.
Habits of the Hoopoe
It is a generally solitary and diurnal bird, which can be migratory or resident, depending on the region and the country.It usually nests in the hollows of trees, on the roofs of buildings or in rocks. They can also build their nests in barns, in wood piles, in wells or in sandy walls.
It is common to see them walking on the ground, but they quickly fly away if threatened. Like other species (such as the kingfisher), during the nesting period they accumulate large amounts of excrement, so that the females and chicks give off a peculiar and unpleasant smell, which often drives the birds away. potential predators. In addition, they coat their eggs with the secretion of their foul gland, a behavior that promotes hatching success.
Hoopoe feeding
The hoopoe feeds mainly on insects and larvae present on the ground, which it extracts with its elongated beak, it is thus a natural predator of the pine processionary caterpillar, hence its larger presence in the pine forests.His favorite insects are crickets and grasshoppers, as well as beetle and dipteran larvae and ants.
It feeds by walking on the ground and it is common to observe it inserting its long, somewhat curved beak into animal droppings and soft ground, where it searches for insects and their larvae. If you want to learn more about the importance of a bird's beak in its diet and lifestyle, we encourage you to read this other article from PlanèteAnimal on Types of bird beaks.
Reproduction of the Hoopoe
In mid-May, the breeding season for hoopoes begins, and that's when they start looking for a nesting site. The female is responsible for incubating the 7 to 10 eggs she usually lays, while the male feeds her, and then the chicks. After about 28 days, the chicks are ready to leave the nest, an event that occurs between July and August.
Conservation status of the Hoopoe
" Although it is categorized as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, its population is currently declining, mainly due to hunting and dwindling food availability (due to use of insecticides), suitable nesting sites and increased agricultural activity. For the moment, there is no specific project for the recovery of this species, however, monitoring of its populations is carried out."
Hoopoe pictures
