Page 24 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

24 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

Comparisons

Worldwide, there are approximately nine subspecies of hoopoe.These
beautiful birds can be found from northern Europe to east Asia, but it’s
in Africa that they’re most at home. Hoopoes are happiest with bare
earth beneath their feet and cavities to nest in, which allows them to
Wood-hoopoe enjoy a wide range of habitats.Their cousins, the wood-hoopoes, are
much choosier, preferring open woodland and savannah.

Hoopoe

Hoopoe habitats Dirt brings disease, which is why no sensible bird would
ever foul its own nest, but hoopoes seem to positively
adore dung!
These odd birds build their nests in cavities, usually in
trees or rock faces, although any suitably sized hole will
do. Hoopoes have even been found nesting in pipes,
discarded burrows and termite mounds.Yet, despite their
elegant and refined appearance, they are terrible house-
keepers. In fact, it’s easy to hunt out a hoopoe nest because
they smell so bad!
Breeding females and their chicks produce a foul liquid
from their preen gland, which is said to smell like rotting
flesh.Added to that, the birds excrete waste directly into
the nest, and the blue eggs are very dirty by the time the
chicks hatch.The chicks also foul the nest, so by the time
they are ready to fly, their homes, and often the birds
themselves, are alive with ticks, flies and maggots. No
wonder that some people call these birds hoop-poos!

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