With a funky crest, a long tapering bill, zebra striped wings and a flight resembling a butterfly, Hoopoe (Upupa epops, Hudhud in arabic) is one of the most distinctive birds to spot. Named after its typical call, these birds can be spotted throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. In fact, in 2008, the Hoopoe was named as the National Bird of Israel. Hoopoes are small ground dwelling birds which feed on insects and foraging on the ground. They usually stay inside holes in tree trunks and do not build a nest. For a Hoopoe, the beak is the most important tool. They use it to dig the ground to find insects and also to scoop up winged insects in mid-air. These photographs were captured on a vacant site in Kanakadasanagar.

Ironically, the 2014 Cyclone Hudhud named after this bird which devastated the east coast of India, ended up killing a large number of Hoopoes.

– H.S. Sreeranjani, Sharadadevinagar 1st Stage