Common hoopoe

A conference of wagtails is a common sight along the river side grassy patches where cattle come to gaze. White wagtails and some yellow wagtails scamper hither thither wagging their tails. Among them one may see a handsome bird busy digging and picking something with bent head and stripes like zebra on its back. Its sharp curved beak suddenly finds a juicy worm. With a shake of the neck the bird gulps down the food. This bird otherwise is minding its own business may get alerted by ones presence, and then it opens up its crest, pauses for a moment and flies off only to settle down nearby and starts its hunting once again. The hoopoes call resembles the soft call of the oriental cuckoo and the calling last for 15 minutes at a stretch. India has 3 sub species of hoopoes the world has 9 sub species. hoopoes are seen in north asia Europe Siberia Africa ,iran and Iraq. The female is slightly larger in size and lighter color then the male. This farmers friend feeds on grass hoppers ,cockroaches, termites, ants, millipedes and similar creatures. This is the hoopoe. The sexes look a like. It is seen in villages fields and plains. Favourite spots are the damp grassy patches near river, lakes, canals and streams. The hoopoe is yellowish brown in color and is beak is curved downwards. It uses the beak to dig up insects and worms, insects cocoons like the wet earth.It loves the beetle grubs too. They also fluff their feathers and sray foul smelling excreta on the intruder