Introduction

Famous for its distinctive crown of feathers, Hoopoe bird is found in Afro-Euro Asia. The Latin name for this colorful bird is Upupa while the English name is an onomatopoeic form, which basically imitates the cry or sound which the bird makes. In the family Upupidae, it is the only extant species. The Madagascar subspecies are sometimes referred to or considered as full species. Its subspecies Saint Helena Hoopoe is extinct.

There are nine known subspecies of the Hoopoe as recognized by Kirsten in The Handbook of the Birds of the Worldin the year 2001. These species differ in their size, colors, shades and the plumage. Meanwhile, two more species of Hoopoe have been proposed; one in South Africa and the other in India.

Physical Features/Appearance

The hoopoe Bird is medium sized. It is 25-32 cm long with a wingspan of around 44-48 cm. The wings are round and broad which ensure a strong flight. In the Northern Migratory species, the wings are larger. The average weight of this bird is 46-89 g depending on the size, gender and the area where it dwells. The Hoopoe has an undulating flight, which appears similar to that of some gigantic butterflies. This is because the wings get half closed after every beat or short sequence of beats.

Their beak is long and strong. This beautiful bird also supports a distinctive bill which is generally black with a fawn base. The rounded muscular curvature of their head also supports the beak by opening up bill, while pecking or digging the soil. The plumage is generally in light shades. However, males have a slightly darker shade than the females. Their call is tri-syllabic oop-oop-oop, while two or four syllables are also common.

Habitat and Distribution

The Hoopoe is mostly spread across in Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is also widely found in Madagascar and the Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the birds dwelling in Europe and North Asia migrate to the tropical zones during winters. On the other hand, the bird’s population in Africa is inactive (in terms of migration) all year round.

Their basic requirements for choosing a habitat are:

  • It should have a little vegetation on the ground on which they can forage.
  • Some vertical spaces where they can build their nests for example tree, cliffs, walls and haystacks.

These requirements can be met easily by a wide range of ecosystem, hence the Hoopoes inhabits a wide variety of habitats like:

  • Heathlands.
  • Wooded Steppes.
  • Savannas.
  • Grasslands.
  • And Forest Glands.

The changes and alterations made by humans in their natural habitat for the purpose of agriculture and farming has led these birds to also commonly dwell in:

  • Vineyards.
  • Orchards.
  • Olive Groves.
  • Parkland and Farmland.

Diet and Food

The main component of Hoopoes diet is the insects. They mostly feed on insects but some tiny reptiles and frogs are also included in their food diet. They also like to forage on plant matter which includes seeds and berries.

On rare occasions, they will also feed in air during their flight, as their strong feathers allow them to maneuver around in the air to catch flying insects and moths etc. Their most common style of finding food for themselves is to stride over land and find insects, pupae, insect larvae and crickets, etc. They can probe the soil with their bill and also use their feet to grab insects. The most common prey for Hoopoes are:

  • Crickets
  • Locusts
  • Beetles
  • Earwigs
  • Ant Lions
  • Bugs
  • Ants
  • Cicadas

Most of these are around 20-30mm long. For bigger preys that can range between 50-100 mm, Hoopoes prefer to kill them first by thrashing them on the ground or by using stones to beat them.

Breeding

Hoopoes like to breed in warmer areas. They are monogamous, but the pair lasts just for one season. The female is responsible for incubating eggs and taking care of the nest while the male feeds her and the children during this time.

Interesting Facts about Hoopoe Bird

Some of the interesting facts about Hoopoe are enlisted below:

  • Hoopoe is the National Bird of Israel.
  • It enjoys bathing in the sun and dust. It takes a specific position by spreading its wingsand putting the head down.
  • Average lifespan of a Hoopoe bird in the wild, its natural habitat, is 10 years.
  • They can be easily approached while they are eating as they don’t take notice of humans at that time.
  • Their presence has also be noted on Mt. Everest at 26,000 ft.
  • It is believed that to hear a Hoopoe singing near a wine press means to foretell a good vintage.
  • Experienced human nest finders can locate their nests by just sniffing as Hoopoe is known to have poor sanitation in their nest with a lot of foul smell coming from it.

Relationship with Humans

Hoopoe is protected by a lot of societies as it eats the pests and insects that cause damage to forests and the agricultural lands. This bird has a lot of significance apart from saving forests and plantations for humans. Some of the reasons are mentioned as follows:

  • In Ancient Egypt, they were considered sacred and their pictures were painted on the walls of tombs and temples. Similarly, they were considered holy and sacred in Minoan Crete.
  • In Torah, Leviticus 11:13-19, they are mentioned in the list of animals that should be eaten.
  • They are also listed in Deuteronomy (14:18) asnot Kosher animal.
  • In Persia, Hoopoe is seen as a symbol of virtue. In the Persian literature it is mentioned as the leader of the birds.
  • In the Holy Quran Hoopoes are mentioned as “hudhud” in Surah Al Naml 27: 20-22, in the story of Solomon. In the Islamic Literature it is also mentioned that Hoopoes saved Moses and the children of Israel from being crushed by the giant Og, while crossing the Red Sea.
  • In some countries and cultures Hoopoes are considered as thieves and a symbol of death and crime. They are also traded for their medicinal benefits. They have also been mentioned in a lot of poems, plays and stories in different times and eras.

Latest Birds

Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Information About Flamingos
Hoopoe Bird

Hoopoe Bird

Famous for its distinctive crown of...read more

Roseate Spoonbill Facts

Roseate Spoonbill

The beautiful Roseate Spoonbill...read more

Latest Mammals

Types Of Goats

Types Of Goats

Goat is a mammal that belongs... read more

Goat Facts

Goat Facts

A domesticated form the wild goat of...read more

Giraffes Facts

Giraffes Facts

Giraffes are creatures with extremely...read more

Ox Facts

Ox Facts

A centuries old friend of man in the...read more

How Do Animals Know When to Migrate?

How Do Animals Know When to Migrate?

You might have heard about migration in birds and studied...

Wireless Invisible Dog Fence: A New Way to Keeping Your Pup Safe
What To Look For In An Online Pet Store

What To Look For In An Online Pet Store

Whether you are looking for pet food, pet toys...

Pet Care Essentials Your Home Must - Have

Pet Care Essentials Your Home Must - Have

Whether you haven't had a pet for a while if you are...

Things You Must Be Aware Of Against Dog Attacks

Things You Must Be Aware Of Against Dog Attacks

Dogs are one of the most reliable and most adorable...

Largest Birds of Prey in the World by Size and Weight

Largest Birds of Prey in the World by Size and Weight

Also called raptors, the birds...

Common Pet Emergencies And What You Should Do?

Common Pet Emergencies And What You Should Do?

We all love pets. Whether...

List of Birds That Fly in V Formation

List of Birds That Fly in V Formation

Did you ever feast your eyes on the amazing phenomenon...

What is Honking? Why Do Peacocks Honk?

Why Do Peacocks Honk?

One of the most fascinating gifts of nature, peacocks...

Lionfish Facts

Lionfish Facts

Lionfish is a chordate which belongs to the family scorpaenidae and genus...

Types Of Goats

Types Of Goats

Goat is a mammal that belongs to the family Bovidae. Being a member of the sub-family...

Blue Chinned Sapphire Facts

Blue Chinned Sapphire

This is a kind of hummingbird. It is really small in size, only 8.9 cm as it can be seen...

Lizard Facts

Lizard Facts

Lizards are members of the reptilian class in the animal kingdom. They belong to...

Buffalo Facts, Types, Diet, Habitat And Pictures

Buffalo Facts, Types

Buffalo is a member of the animal kingdom and belongs to class mammalia. Most...

Baboons Facts, Breeds, Habitat, Diet And Pictures

Baboons Facts

Baboons are intelligent and opportunistic creatures which belong to the...

Egg Laying Mammals List and Facts with Pictures

Egg Laying Mammals

Mammals are always thought of giving birth to young ones but sometimes it can...

Dove Bird Facts, Habitat, Pictures and Diet

Dove Bird Facts

The birds that are considered as the symbol of love, peace and harmony are one...

Largest Birds of Prey in the World by Size and Weight

Largest Birds of Prey in the World by Size and Weight

Also called raptors, the birds...

List of Birds That Fly in V Formation

List of Birds That Fly in V Formation

Did you ever feast your eyes on the amazing phenomenon...

Birds of Prey List

Birds of Prey List

A bird of prey is also known as a raptor or a hunter. It belongs to the group of...

Millipedes Vs Centipedes

Millipedes Vs Centipedes

Centipedes and millipedes are both arthropods from the group...

Difference Between Warm Blooded and Cold Blooded Animals
Top 10 Extremely Dangerous Insects

Top 10 Extremely Dangerous Insects

The insects have been grouped in class 'insecta' of...

Sheep Vs Goat

Sheep Vs Goat

The goat and the sheep are related to each other through the same family. They...

Animals with Blue-colored Blood

Animals with Blue-colored Blood

Humans and other vertebrates have red-colored blood running...

Do Birds, Mammals And Reptiles Share A Common Ancestor?

Birds, Mammals And Reptiles

Before coming to the question of common ancestry of birds...