Eurasian Hoopoe!

Seeings how people from all over the world read this site, I thought it would be a great idea to feature some wildlife in their neck of the world. Ind

The name “Eurasian” is a two part word meaning European and Asian, thus the name Eur-asian. Eurasia is a large landmass covering about 20,846,000 mi or about 10.6% of the Earth’s surface . Often considered a single continent, Eurasia comprises the traditional continents of Europe and Asia (and Eurasia is a portmanteau or the blending of two or more words and their meaning into one word, of the two), concepts which date back to classical antiquity and the borders for which are somewhat arbitrary.

Here is a wonder of India call the Eurasian Hoopoe bird. These monogamous little guys love to nest in any hole they can get to. From cliff, to crevices between rocks, to trees, walls, you name it, they are big time cavity dwellers. The Eurasian Hoopoe a a medium sized bird whose plumage on the chest varied from chestnut to a pink brown color. Their broad back, wings and tail are typically black and white. The erectile crest is the same color as the head and tipped with black. These little insect controllers have a long , slender and curved bill with a type of modified muscle which allows the bird to open its bill as it probes for food. Both male and female have small leg stucture and the babies, or juveniles are duller than adults with shorter bills and lighter colors.

What do these wonders of nature do for food? What do they consider Yum Yums? Well, they are a bird and this particular type likes to munch on insects, mainly, specifically larvae and pupae. Centipedes, earthworms, spiders and other creepy crawly things they will munch on also. It has been recorded that the Eurasian Hoopoe will partake in a frog or lizard and an occasional small snake also. You will find these guys constantly making short probes in the ground because this is where they often hunt – in short grass and on bare soil, but at times will stop to incert their full bill into the ground, opening and closing to test the object targeted or to seize it up.

The Eurasian Hoopoe is no stranger to human habitation. They are certainly found around human population. They are great climbers of rough surfaces and like to roost in cavities at night. The male is the one who takes the lead, selects the nest site and establishes the territory. The facinating this about their nesting habits is the fact that they may inhabit the same nest for 4-5 years. The female will produce one egg per day and the clutch size it 5 to 8. They incubate the eggs for 15 – 18 days and the female is the ONLY one who performs this. After about 6 days the youngsters will begin to feed theirself and then remain with mom and dad for the next few weeks.

These guys have a distinctive flight pattern with erratic, butterfly- like flapping. They can climb through rough surfaces and are ready to perch at anytime.

Interestingly enough, there is a book of poems in Persian by Farid ud-Din Attar called “The Conference of the Birds”, which is a great example of Persian poetry and this book has clever word play. The “Simorgh” is a mysterious bird in Iranian mythology which is a symbol often found in sufi literature and similar tothe phoenix bird. “Si Morgh” means 30 birds in Persian. The poem uses a journey by a group of 30 birds, led by a hoopoe as an allegory of a Sufi sheikh or master leading his pupils to enlightenment.


These birds are also great for insect control. For those of you in Asia, Africa or India that would like some unique idead on attracting and harboring these birds in your yards, please visit : wildlife-houses.com As always, Happy Birding!.