The common hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a very striking and charismatic summer bird, belonging to the order Bucerotiformes and the family Upupidae. It is present in much of the old world, with the exception of Madagascar, where another species, Upupa marginata, lives (according to some authors). The feathers present on its head, distributed as a plume, make it unmistakable, in addition, its flight can resemble that of a large butterfly, since, unlike other birds, flies from erratic and undulating wayIf you want to know more about the common hoopoe, continue reading this file on our site.
Characteristics of the common hoopoe
At first glance, the most characteristic feature of the common hoopoe is Its crest, ocher in color with black tips The rest of the body It has a cinnamon color, while the tail and wings have black and white bands. It is a medium-sized bird, approximately 27 cm tall and with a wingspan of 47 cm. Its beak is long and slightly downward sloping (ie slightly decurved). As we mentioned, its flight is erratic and undulating, and together with its colorful plumage, make it a very elegant bird Its striking “up-up-up” song It is what gives the species its name. Another of its most striking characteristics is the presence of a foetid gland located at the base of its tail, which allows it to produce a secretion that helps it scare away their predators.
There are 9 described subspecies, the most common being Upupa epops epops. Some studies also describe Upupa marginata as another subspecies of hoopoe, but it is commonly considered a separate species.
Common Hoopoe Habitat
The common hoopoe is typical of dry regions, occupying forest clearings, plantation areas, such as vineyards and other orchards, and in fields crops, as well as steppes and grassland areas. It prefers areas below 1,000 m altitude, as well as natural or artificial meadows and savannahs. It is a resident in Spain and is distributed throughout the peninsula, with the exception of the Cantabrian fringe, always with a preference for the Mediterranean climate In addition, it is also a resident bird of the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Customs of the Common Hoopoe
It is generally a solitary bird, diurnal and can be migratory or resident, depending on the region and country. It commonly nests in tree hollows, on roofs of buildings, or on rocks. They may also build their nests in barns, in stacked wood, in wells, or on sandy walls.
A common image is to see her walking on the ground, taking flight quickly if she feels threatened. Similar to the behavior of other species (such as the kingfisher), during the nesting season they accumulate large amounts of feces, so the females and chicks emit a peculiar and unpleasant odor, often keeping potential predators away. In addition, they smear their eggs with the secretion of their fetid gland, a behavior that helps to have greater hatching success.
Common Hoopoe Feeding
The common hoopoe feeds mainly on insects and larvae present on the ground, which it extracts with its elongated beak, being a natural predator of the pine processionary, hence its greater presence in areas of pine forests. His favorite insects are crickets and grasshoppers, as well as larvae of Coleoptera and Diptera and ants.
Common Hoopoe Reproduction
A mid-May The hoopoe breeding season begins, and that's when they start looking for a nesting site. The female is in charge of incubating the 7 to 10 eggs that they generally lay, while the male feeds her and later the chicks. After approximately about 28 days, the chicks will be ready to leave the nest, an event that occurs between July and August
Conservation status of the common hoopoe
Although it is listed as least concern on the IUCN red list, its population is currently in decline, mainly due to hunting and the reduction of available food (due to the use of insecticides), of suitable places to nest and because of the increase in agricultural activity. At the moment there is no specific project for the recovery of this species, however, monitoring of its populations is carried out.
