Hoopoe

Upupa epops

Introduction

Unmistakable, with its down-curved bill, black, white and sandy brown plumage – not to mention its crest – this is a striking visitor to our shores, most often encountered in spring but with records from all months.

With a wide breeding range, extending from Portugal in the west to China in the east, the Hoopoe breeds as far north as Estonia.

Occasional pairs have bred here in Britain, although we lack the abundance of grasshoppers, crickets and small lizards that are the favoured prey within its core breeding range.

Key Stats

Rare

67.3g

7-8

<1%

BTO Records

8.7k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

-100% contraction

No data

No current data

80% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Hoopoe

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Hoopoe, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Yes

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

WCA(I), Bern(III)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Greater London, 1666

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Hoopoe is an occasional breeder in the UK. Although singing males are recorded most years, the last breeding record was by a pair in Wales in 1996 [Ogilvie & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 1999]. This was the first breeding record since 1977 when four pairs bred at different locations in southern England [Batten et al 1979]. Migrant Hoopoes are seen regularly on spring and autumn passage, with the highest numbers observed in April and September; although sightings are spread across the UK, the majority of records are concentrated in southwest England [White & Kehoe 2024]. The latest report on scarce migrant birds [White & Kehoe 2024] notes a couple of individuals that overwintered in the UK during winter 2021/22.

Distribution

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During Bird Atlas 2007–11 there were non-breeding records of Hoopoes in 203 10-km squares in Britain and a further nine squares in Ireland. These were typically spring-migration overshoots and their distribution fits the established pattern. Breeding was last confirmed in 1996.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.4%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)

-100 %

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

80 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Hoopoes are scarce migrants that can be recorded from early spring onwards with some birds present in autumn and occasionally in winter.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Hoopoe movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Hoopoe, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

1(2)

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

26x18 mm

Mass (% shell)

4.4g (8%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

8-7 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

4-12 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Female

Typical duration

16-15 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Altricial, downy

Typical duration

29-26 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Survival of adults

All adults

0.38

Source

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Ring Size

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Hoopoe

Classification and Codes

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Order: Bucerotiformes
Family: Upupidae
Scientific name: Upupa epops
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: HP
BTO 5-letter code: HOOPO
Euring code number: 8460

Alternate species names

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Catalan: puput comuna
Czech: dudek chocholatý
Danish: Hærfugl
Dutch: Hop
Estonian: vaenukägu e. toonetutt
Finnish: harjalintu
French: Huppe fasciée
Gaelic: Calman-cathaidh

German: Wiedehopf
Hungarian: búbosbanka
Icelandic: Herfugl
Irish: Húpú
Italian: Upupa
Latvian: pupukis, bada dzeguze
Lithuanian: kukutis
Norwegian: Hærfugl

Polish: dudek
Portuguese: poupa / poupa-eurasiática
Slovak: dudok chochlatý
Slovenian: smrdokavra
Spanish: Abubilla común
Swedish: härfågel
Welsh: Copog

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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