Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

General data

Order:Coraciiformes
Family: Upupidae
Genus: Upupa
Scientific name: Upupa epops
Common name: Hoopoe

Geographic distribution:
Ethiopic, Oriental and Paleartic regions. In Iberia is present U. e. epops, which breeds from Canary Is. through NE India, China to SW Siberia. In Balearic Is. breeds on the four main islands.
Migration:
N population migratory, most others partially migratory like nominative epops in NW Africa and Canary Is. Nominative epops from W Palearctic winters in sub-Sahara Africa S to about Kenya, with few farther S, while E Palearctic populations generally move short distances S to S India and China. In the Balearics Is. remain a small winter population, possibly formed by resident birds mixed with wintering N Europe birds.
Habitat:
Open country with scattered trees, hedges, Mediterranean scrub, parkland, orchards, very common on cultivated fields with almond tree and carob tree where nest in holes of old trees; also in pastures, vineyards and others treeless country nesting in walls, sand quarries and ruins. Outside the breeding season more widespread.
Description:
Length 26-32 cm Long, thin, decurved bill (5-6 cm), large crest, black-and-white rounded wings, and broad black tail with white band near base; in flight white and black bands on inner wing with black primary coverts and primaries. Male has breast sandy-buff, often tinged pinkish, whitish vent and the feathers of the crest with black tips and white subterminal spots; white band across tips of primaries and white tips of inner primaries; bill grey darker at tip, short legs also grey. Sexes alike.

Upupa epops