Hoopoes seen in several places this year
Photo from Kuusalu area: Ivan Plotnikov
Translation: Liis
Hoopoe in the yard
Hoopoe Vaenukägu or toonetutt Upupa epops
A truly rare breeding bird in Estonia. It is thought to be most often encountered in Pärnumaa, in the Kabli-Võiste area but also in the Haapsalu vicinity. The number of breeders may be only up to ten pairs but during recent years the number of observations has become more frequent – during the weekend of May 10-11 hoopoes were seen in addition to the official sightings in a couple of places in Harjumaa and the Emajõe Suursoo…
The flight image of a hoopoe is very special: black-and-white banded rounded wings, the flight is very soft and undulating with deep wing-strokes – truly more like the flight of a giant butterfly. The tail is black with a broad white band; this too is clearly visible in flight. The rump area is white and the remainder of the plumage light pinkish-brown. Body length about a quarter of a metre, weight 60 grams, the slightly hooked bill is 4 centimetres. It can raise the feather crest on the crown like a parrot: splendid orange feathers tipped in black – an exterior like a tropical species.
It arrives in Estonia in April and favours drier meadows or pastures, so called village landscapes as Ivan’s photo shows. The call is loud, a little hollow-sounding – pop-pop-pop.
Hoopoe observations : LINK
Kaarel Kaisel photographed the hoopoe below in August but its plumage is similar throughout the year.
Hoopoe
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