Also known as Hammerkop,Hammerkopf, Hammerhead, Hammerhead Stork, Umbrette, Umber Bird, Tufted Umber, or Anvilhead.
The Hamerkop is a medium-sized bird inhabiting wetlands of Africa (south of the Sahara desert), Madagascar and coastal southwest Arabia. It feeds on amphibians, fish, shrimp, insects and rodents.
Scopus umbretta displays several unusual behaviours. Up to ten birds join in "ceremonies" in which they run circles around each other, all calling loudly, raising their crests, fluttering their wings. Another is "false mounting", in which one bird stands on top of another and appears to mount it, but they may not be mates and do not copulate.
Another curious aspect of the Hamerkop is its nest, which is sometimes more than 1.5m across, comprising of over 10000 sticks and strong enough to hold a man's weight. The birds decorate the outside of the nest with any bright-coloured objects they can find and compulsively build up to 3 to 5 nests each year, regardless of whether they are breeding or not.
There are many cultural legends about the Hamerkop. For example, Kalahari Bushmen believe or believed that being hit by lightning resulted from trying to rob a Hamerkop's nest.
Vocalisations include cackles and a shrill call given in flight. Hamerkops are mostly silent except when in groups. Its name comes from the shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back.
[All text: Ref (37)]
No comments:
Post a Comment