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15

Hoopoe

(Upupa epops)
Alternate name(s): "Eurasian Hoopoe"
German name(s): "Wiedehopf"

Size: 25-32 cm; wing span: 44-48 cm
Weight: 46-89 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Hoopoe at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "epops"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

Frontal view of a preening Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2015]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Arrozais de Aguas de Moura, Palmela, Setubal, Portugal, January 2021]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2018]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Reboleira, Lisbon, Portugal, August 2016]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Reboleira, Lisbon, Portugal, August 2016]

Dorsal view of a Hoopoe (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Reboleira, Lisbon, Portugal, August 2016]

Dorsal view of a Hoopoe stretching a wing (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Reboleira, Lisbon, Portugal, August 2016]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2016]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Hoopoe banking to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2014]

Dorsal view of a Hoopoe landing to join its mates in foraging on pasture (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]

More photos of Hoopoes, race "epops", were taken by us in Oman.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jun - Jan Eggs: ca. 12 Incubation period: 15 - 18 days Fledging age: 26 - 29 days

The breeding season depends a lot on geographic latitude and other climatic factors. The period listed above applies to eastern/central Europe.

The clutch size also depends strongly on geographic latitude. It varies from ca. 4 eggs in the tropics, via on average 7 in subtropical regions, to around 12 at higher latitudes.

Nest building: ? Incubation: Female Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Hollow Material: Tree, rock Height above ground: 3 - 10? m

Hoopoe feeding one of its chicks through the opening of its hollow in a tree trunk (photo courtesy of Beata from Warsaw)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Near-fledging age Hoopoe chick at the entrance of its nest hollow; note the white gape (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Hoopoe approaching its nest; the full-size image gives an overview of where the nest is located
(photo courtesy of Agnieszka from Lodz)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Eggs

Size: 26 x 17 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

While foraging, Hoopoes prefer to run from place to place, rather than fly short distances, especially while foraging on the ground.

Near-frontal view of a Hoopoe foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Hoopoe foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, January 2023]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Hoopoe with its prey, possibly a wood-boring insect (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2014]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe carrying away its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa dos Patos, Beringel, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a Hoopoe foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

hoopoe_dw_20180525_2.m4a epops (Poland) Territorial call (male) © DW
hoopoe_jp_20190606.m4a epops (Portugal) Territorial calls (male) © JP
hoopoe_jp_20230203.mp3 epops (Portugal) Territorial calls (male) © JP
hoopoe_dw_20180525.m4a epops (Poland) Territorial calls (male)
(+ House Sparrow)
© DW
hoopoe_dw_20180525_NR.m4a epops (Poland) Territorial calls (male), no bkgd © DW
hoopoe_jp_20200322.m4a epops (Portugal) Territorial calls (male) (+ Short-toed Treecreeper) © JP
hoopoe_jp_20200412.m4a epops (Portugal) Territorial calls (male)
(+ Common Chaffinch)
© JP

More Hoopoe sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.