European Hoopoe
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Upupa epops
Rare & annual migrants from Southern Europe with 100-160 per year in Britain, mostly March-October.
Rare in the winter.
Has bred.
Breeds in France, Spain, Mallorca & North West Africa.
Winters in tropical Africa.
Adults have a long, thin tapering bill that is black with a fawn base.
They have a characteristic undulating flight, which is like that of a giant Butterfly, caused by the wings half closing at the end of each beat or short sequence of beats with broad & rounded wings.
The crest is only raised in alarm posture.
The call is typically a trisyllabic oop-oop-oop, which may give rise to its English and scientific names, although two and four syllables are also common.