Among the most recognizable birds is hoopoe. The bird has a large crest, which helps not to confuse it with anyone. She is also dressed in a bright plumage, which makes her especially attractive. But many people ask the following questions related to this bird: hoopoe - a migratory bird or not, what he eats and how he lives.
Description
Hoopoe is a remarkable representative of birds, which is small in size. Its color is plumage is gray-brown, closer to the abdomen it acquires a lighter shade. The wings have black plumage with white stripes. The straight tail is also black, but there is only one light strip on it. The black pattern goes slightly to the back. Also, the bird is distinguished by a long movable crest on its head. It consists of feathers in two rows, which at the ends have black spots and small white dots, which can change their location when moving a crest. The beak is 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 almost throughout Africa. But the flight may even be in the far north. Usually hoopoe chooses an open area for the nest, where there are sparse trees and shrubs. It can be meadows, savannahs, pastures. It can be met in vineyards or orchards. It is worth noting that the Upupa genus includes six species of hoopoe, but in Europe there is only one of their species, the wasteland. But the habits and lifestyle of all birds of this genus are the same.
Features
Hoopoe is a cautious bird, but it is not shy. When the feathered one begins to get nervous or something frightens him, the crest opens like a fan. Also, the "bang" straightens out when it lands on the ground hoopoe.
The photo (the bird lands, spreading its "forelock") illustrates this very well. During the flight, hoopoe folds its crest. But still it is not difficult to recognize him by the plumage and the manner of flight. Wings of the wings are slow and intermittent, and the movement in the air is undulating. Although it may seem that hoopoe flies awkwardly and even ineptly, in fact it is very nimble and nimble. 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 sites and travel to Africa or the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. They return around April, when the air has warmed enough.
What eats
A hoopoe bird seeks its food in meadows and pastures. He sticks his thin beak into the ground and deftly pulls out larvae and various insects. Most of all he loves a bear, worms, spiders. But he can catch small lizards and even scorpions. Sometimes hoopoe catches the victim in flight. He first kills everyone he grabs, then throws it up and, opening its beak, swallows food. In winter, the feathered feasts on termites and ants. The diet of chicks practically does not differ from adults.
Breeding birds
Hoopoe is a monogamous bird. With his couple he lives all his life. They come to settle in the same place from year to year. To attract the partner’s attention, the male selects a rare tree and begins to sing. At this time, its beak was lifted up, the crest was open and feathers were puffing on its neck. After the pairing has occurred, the female enters a hollow in which there is no litter and lays five to eight eggs.
But if the couple does not find a suitable hollow, she can choose a slot in the wall, a bunch of branches, and recesses among the stones as a nest. Very rarely, birds line the bottom with grass or moss. It takes 15-16 days for the female to hatch. These days, the male takes care of her food and carries her food. Chicks are born in turn with interruptions of several days. They hatch covered only in down and need to be warmed. This function is assigned to the female. At this time, a hoopoe father wears food for everyone (photo: a bird brings a larva to the nest).
When the chicks fledge, both parents take care of their food. When the kids are four weeks old, they begin to leave the nest. Near the houses of these birds you can feel an unpleasant smell. Hoopoes have a special gland that produces a liquid with a pungent aroma. This smell allows you to scare away enemies. Both females and chicks are able to “shoot” this liquid at the enemy, who immediately retreats. Because of this ability, these birds were called "stinky cockerels."
