Hoopoe Bird Facts (Upupa epops)

The Hoopoe is a striking bird with a pinkish-brown body, black and white striped wings, and a distinctive fan-like crest. Its long, curved bill is perfect for probing the ground for insects. The crest usually lies flat but raises when the bird is excited or alarmed.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles appearing duller. The Hoopoe's plumage remains consistent year-round, with no seasonal changes.

The Hoopoe can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Hoopoe can be found in Urban habitats.

The Hoopoe can be found in Farmland habitats.

The Hoopoe can be found in Grassland habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Hoopoe is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Hoopoes inhabit many open habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, farmlands, and urban parks across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They prefer areas with bare or short-grass patches for foraging.

Hoopoes are summer visitors to many countries in Europe, migrating to Africa for winter. They are rare but regular visitors to the UK, typically during spring migration.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Hoopoe. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Burundi Gabon Rwanda Uganda

Species that pass through the area during migration

Bahrain Kuwait Qatar

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Hoopoe demonstrates considerable agility with its butterfly-like flight pattern and irregular wing beats. Its ability to walk and run on the ground whilst probing for food also indicates good manoeuvrability.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong for its size, the Hoopoe's long, curved bill allows it to probe effectively for insects and grubs. Its strength is adequate for its lifestyle but not exceptional.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Hoopoes show high adaptability, inhabiting a wide range of open habitats from woodlands to urban parks across various climate zones. Their diverse diet and ability to nest in both natural and man-made structures further demonstrate their adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally, Hoopoes are not aggressive birds. They are often solitary or form small groups outside breeding season. Their primary defence mechanism is a foul-smelling secretion rather than aggressive behaviour.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Hoopoes exhibit moderate endurance. As partial migrants capable of long-distance travel between Europe and Africa, they possess reasonable stamina. However, they are not known for exceptional feats of endurance compared to some other migratory species.

Hoopoes primarily feed on insects and their larvae, particularly fond of mole crickets and beetle grubs. They use their long, curved bills to probe the soil and leaf litter, extracting prey precisely. Occasionally, they may also eat small reptiles, seeds, or berries.

Hoopoes are often seen walking or running on the ground, using their long bills to probe for food. They are generally solitary birds but may form small groups outside the breeding season. When threatened, Hoopoes can produce a foul-smelling secretion as a defence mechanism.

The Hoopoe's call is a distinctive, soft 'hoop-hoop-hoop' or 'oop-oop-oop', repeated 2-5 times. This vocalisation gives the bird its common name in many languages. During courtship, males may produce a raspy, frog-like sound.

Hoopoes form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, typically from April to July. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, fanning their crests and singing to attract females.

Nests are built in tree cavities, rock crevices, or man-made structures. The female lays 5-8 pale blue eggs that turn olive-brown over time. No nesting material is used, creating a notoriously smelly nest.

Incubation lasts about 15-18 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 26-29 days but remain dependent on adults for several weeks.

The Hoopoe typically lives for 10 to 15 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While the Hoopoe is listed as Least Concern globally, it faces localised threats from habitat loss and pesticide use. In some European countries, conservation efforts focus on providing nesting boxes and preserving traditional farmland habitats to support Hoopoe populations.

Look for Hoopoes in open areas with short grass or bare ground
Listen for their distinctive 'hoop-hoop-hoop' call
Watch for their butterfly-like flight pattern with irregular wing beats
Often, when landing, hoopoes will momentarily raise their fan-shaped crest
Hoopoes can often be found laying on the ground sunbathing!
In the UK, Hoopoes are rare visitors, most likely to be seen during spring migration

Hoopoes face predation from various birds of prey, including sparrowhawks and falcons. Ground predators such as foxes and cats may also pose a threat, especially to nesting birds.

The Hoopoe is the national bird of Israel, having been chosen from tens of thousands of votes in 2008.
Ancient Egyptians considered the Hoopoe sacred and depicted it in their hieroglyphics.
Hoopoes can rotate their eyes in their sockets, allowing them to keep watch for predators while probing for food.
Hoopoes are now split into three separate species: African, Madagascan and Eurasian. Hoopoes have even been found on Everest! They are best suited to warm temperatures and areas with low-intensity farming with minimum pesticide usage.

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Visual Identification

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Habitat and Distribution

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Bird Attributes

Bird Attributes Explained

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Understanding the Ratings:

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Adaptability

Aggressiveness

Endurance

Diet

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Vocalisation

Nesting & Breeding

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Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Population Data

Rarity Index

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