Pronounced "hupu" and known for its distinct 'crown' of feathers and long, thin tapering black bill. Hoopoes are found across Afro-Eurasia.
A medium sized bird, the Hoopoe inhabits a wide range of environments including farms, orchards, savannas, heathland, grasslands, vineyards and glades inside forests.
The Hoopoe is monogamous for a single breeding season and can be quite brutal when competing for a mate. They will try to stab rivals with their bills, and individuals are occasionally blinded in fights. The bills are otherwise useful for probing the ground for ants and other tasty insects.
Upupa epops has a rich history of cultural reference. Ancient Egyptians considered Hoopoes to be sacred and in Persia the bird was a symbol of virtue. In contrast, Hoopoes were thought of as thieves throughout most of Europe and harbingers of war in Scandinavia. In Estonia the Hoopoe is traditionally linked to death and the underworld.
The Hoopoe also appears in both the Bible and the Quran. It the national bird of the State of Israel.
The song of the Hoopoe is a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop".
[All text: Ref (29)]
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