Can anyone identify this bird?

peregrina2000

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Staff member

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• Apr 30, 2018

• #1

On three different occasions over the last few days I have seen a very pretty bird. It has a brown body and (I think) a little tuft or “crown” like a peacock. Its wings and tail are black and white striped. Its tail fans out in a v-shape from its body. Does this ring any bells?

Thanks, buen camino,Laurie.

 

Bradypus

Migratory hermit

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Too many and too often!

• Apr 30, 2018

• #2

Is it a pinkish-brown? Could it be a hoopoe?

 

Last edited: Apr 30, 2018

VNwalking

Out walking

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Yearly and Various 2014-2019
Via Monastica 2022

• Apr 30, 2018

• #3

Your description sounds like a Hoopoe.
Distantly related to kingfishers, and an ornithologist's favorite in large part because of nomenclature.
It's really hard to beat a name like Upupa epops.

 

Last edited: Apr 30, 2018

Oppis

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CF -15, VdlP -15, Sanabres-16. CP -17, Primitivo-17, Mozarabe-18, Norte-18, Sureste-19

• Apr 30, 2018

• #4

We also met them as a big population on surrounding of a pigfarm on stage before Monterrubio. Very fancy birds.

 

peregrina2000

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• May 1, 2018

• #5

Thanks so much -THAT’S IT!! Yes indeed it is a very fancy bird. It just seemed so out of place and exotic. I’d never seen one on the camino before— does it live all over Spain?

 

Bradypus

Migratory hermit

Donating Member

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Too many and too often!

• May 1, 2018

• #6

peregrina2000 said:

I’d never seen one on the camino before— does it live all over Spain?

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Yes. Though the numbers may be greater in the south. It is an occasional visitor as far north as the UK though I have only ever seen one here.

 

VNwalking

Out walking

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Yearly and Various 2014-2019
Via Monastica 2022

• May 1, 2018

• #7

peregrina2000 said:

I’d never seen one on the camino before— does it live all over Spain?

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Yes, but more commonly in the south. They are all over Asia and the mid-east - and are the national bird of Israel. There is a fascinating amount of mythology about them that goes way back.
Edit - Haha...once again, @Bradypus beat me to it. I saw one on the Frances once, and have been digging in my photos to find it but can't. It was in Navarre someplace, I think Muruzabel.

 

Last edited: May 1, 2018

D

Daisyray2018

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

19th May 2018 - Sarria to Santiago

• May 1, 2018

• #8

VNwalking said:

Yes, but more commonly in the south. They are all over Asia and the mid-east - and are the national bird of Israel. There is a fascinating amount of mythology about them that goes way back.
Edit - Haha...once again, @Bradypus beat me to it. I saw one on the Frances once, and have been digging in my photos to find it but can't. It was in Navarre someplace, I think Muruzabel.

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And they're very at home here in South Africa.

 

Stroller

Active Member

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Norte (2015), Frances (2016)

• May 1, 2018

• #9

I've seen them in the Charante.

 

C

Carolynm

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Arriving in St Jean April 24, 2016

• May 1, 2018

• #10

Bradypus said:

Is it a pinkish-brown? Could it be a hoopoe?View attachment 42077View attachment 42079

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Yes you are so lucky!!