Hoopoes!

The number of hoopoes in Menorca, that had been declining in recent years, seems to be recovering, and that is good news for bird lovers. We do seem to have quite a number of such birds in the fields and woods of the island and we love to hear them calling in the spring and summer

The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a colourful bird that is named for its call, “hoo-poo.” The common hoopoe is about 12 inches (30 cm) long. It has a showy, semicircular crest and mixed reddish-brown, black, and white plumage. The bill is long and curved, the legs short.

A regular guests, who is a keen stamp collector told me once that  he had a very complete collection of stamps of hoopoes. I could not imagine there were so many, and from so many countries.