Hoopoe: a bird with an unforgettable appearance

Among the most recognizable birds are hoopoe. The bird has a large crest, which helps it not to be confused with anyone. She is also dressed in a bright plumage, which makes her especially attractive. But many are asked the following questions related to this bird : hoopoe is a migratory bird or not, what does it feed and how does it live.

Description

Hoopoe is a remarkable representative of birds, having small sizes. Its color is plumage gray-brown, closer to the abdomen, it acquires a lighter shade. Wings have a black plumage with white stripes. The straight tail is also black, but the light strip on it is one. The black pattern slightly shifts to the back. Also, the bird is distinguished by a long movable tuft on its head. It consists of feathers in two rows, which at the ends have black spots and small white specks, which can change their location when moving with a tuft. Beak long and thin, slightly curved. The nostrils are open.

Habitat

Hoopoe is a migratory bird. He likes to nest in southern and central Europe, western Asia and practically throughout Africa. But the balloon can be even in the far north. Usually hoopoe chooses an open area for the nest, where there are sparse trees and shrubs. These can be meadows, savannahs, pastures. It can be found in vineyards or gardens. It should be noted that the Upupa family includes six species of hoopoes, but in Europe only one of their varieties is settled - wasteland. But the habits and way of life of all birds of this genus are the same.

Features

Hoopoe - the bird is cautious, but at the same time it is not from shy ones. When a bird begins to get nervous or something scared him, the crest dissolves like a fan. Also, the "bangs" are straightened out when the hoopoe lands on land.

Photo (the bird lands, straightening his "chubchik") this illustrates very well. During the flight the hoopoe folds its crest. But still it is easy to learn by plumage and the manner of flight. The wings of the wings are slow and intermittent, and the motion in the air is wavy. Although it may seem that the hoopoe is flying clumsily and even clumsily, in fact, he is very clever and smart. Also the bird has powerful legs, because he walks a lot on the ground. When a predator attacks him, he first runs, and then flies up. Such a maneuver does not allow the enemy to grab him from above with claws.

By September, hoopoes leave their nesting grounds and travel to Africa or to the shores of the Mediterranean. They return in about April, when the air is already warm enough.

What feeds on

Bird hoopoe searches for food on meadows and pastures. He sticks his thin beak into the ground and deftly takes out larvae and various insects. Most of all he likes bear, worms, spiders. But he can catch small lizards and even scorpions. Sometimes hoopoe catches a victim in flight. Everyone he grabs, he first kills, then throws up and, opening his beak, swallows the food. During the winter, the feathered feast with termites and ants. The ration of chicks practically does not differ from adult individuals.

Reproduction of birds

Hoopoe is a monogamous bird. With his couple he lives his whole life. They arrive to settle in the same place from year to year. To attract the attention of the partner, the male chooses a rare tree and begins to sing. At this time, his beak is lifted up, the crest is open and feathers are pricked on the neck. After the mating took place, the female enters a hollow in which there is no litter, and lays off five to eight eggs.

But if the pair does not find a suitable hollow, it can choose as a nest a crevice in the wall, a bunch of branches, excavations among the stones. Very rarely birds lining the bottom with grass or moss. To incubate the female it takes 15-16 days. These days the male takes care of her food and carries her food. Birds appear in the light in turns with interruptions in a few days. They hatch only covered with fluff and need to be warmed. This function is assigned to the female. At this time the fodder is borne by the father-hoopoe (photo: the bird brings the larva to the nest).

When the chicks feather, both parents take care of their food. When the kids turn four weeks old, they begin to leave the nest. Near the houses of these birds you can smell unpleasant. The hoopoes have a special gland that produces a liquid with a pungent odor. This smell allows you to scare off enemies. Both females and chicks are able to "shoot" this liquid into the enemy, which immediately recedes. Because of this ability, these birds were nicknamed "smelly cockerels".

Interesting Facts

Sometimes in an open area during a flight to the hoopoe, a bird of prey can attack . To save the "cockerel" uses a cunning way. He rushes to the ground and presses against it. At the same time, he spreads his tail and wings, his beak is tugging up. In this case, the bird becomes invisible to the predator. So the hoopoe can merge with the situation and stay alive.

In Ancient Egypt, this bird was treated very reverently. There is a hieroglyph, in which the head of the hoopoe with an open tuft is clearly visible.

Sometimes this bird flies to Iceland. But this happens only in hot months. Thus hoopoe there does not remain on nesting.