Hoopoe

Hoopoe

The hoopoe is one of the most distinctive birds of Mediterranean Spain, common in the meadows of the south and recognisable by its black-tipped crest and its song. Its plumage is ochre-coloured with black and white stripes, with the orange breast standing out more intensely in the males. Its flight is characterised by its black-and-white, wide and rounded wings, and an erratic and undulating flight. Although it is a trans-Saharan migrant, some populations remain in warm regions of the peninsula, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

The hoopoe uses its beak to repeatedly shake and hit the pine processionary caterpillar, with the intention of dislodging a good part of the annoying stinging hairs.