ANIMAL FACTS

Did you know...? Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

The H oopoes are migratory birds that can be found across most of Europe, Asia and Africa with around 100 individuals also visiting the south coast of the UK periodically in Spring and Autumn. Their stunning plumage makes them quite the visual spectacle and as such, many people claim they have spotted an exotic bird or escaped pet.

Despite being found across a vast distribution, taxonomists and ornithologists believed there was only one species of hoopoe, Upupa epops for many years. Still today, there are debates whether there are two or three species of this bird. Upupa marginata, the Madagascan hoopoe and Upupa africana, the African hoopoe are currently recognised as separate species to their European/Asian counterpart.

Hoopoes have also been played a central role in many ancient cultures. They were depicted by the ancient Egyptians as a sign that a child belonged to the parent. The hoopoe was also mentioned in the Bible and the Quran and is the national bird of Israel.

Hoopoes are monogamous for the breeding season and fiercely territorial. Their sharp bills are often used in a stabbing motion, with males often blinded in territorial disputes. Nesting females also adapt their uropygial gland to produce a foul-smelling odour similar to rotting flesh in a bid to protect her eggs and hatchlings.