Hoopoe. Hoopoe family, hoopoe birds, also known as Hu Bi, Hua Pu Fan, Mountain Monk, Cockscomb, Stinky Partridge, Xiangxiang Chicken. The hoopoe is widely distributed in Africa and Eurasia, and is distributed throughout China. The hoopoe likes to inhabit warm and dry areas, like mountains, plains, cultivated land, forests, forest edges, roadsides, river valleys, and likes to forage on open ground such as farmland, grasslands, villages, and orchards. The hoopoe has brightly colored wings, a unique crest on the head, and a slender and curved beak; The chest is wine-colored, with black, brownish-white, black-brown markings on the back and shoulders; The iris is brown or reddish-brown, the mouth is black, and the toes are lead black, and they are highly recognizable.
Why is it called a hoopoe? Because the hoopoe will erect its feather crown when it chirps and courtes, and the shape of the erected feather crown is similar to the headdress of the ancient female "victory", so it is named. The hoopoe usually has a low crown and moves quickly, and when frightened, the crown will stand upright, like a flat-brimmed hat that extends backwards; When the hoopoe flies, its wings flapp slowly and advance in waves; The wings are like butterflies, and the cry is deep. The hoopoe has a unique appearance, colorful wings, staggered feathers, a long and narrow small mouth, and an alert and agile nature. The hoopoe has symbolic meanings such as loyalty, uprightness, peace, contentment, and happiness.
The hoopoe has a more docile temperament and is not very afraid of people, and it is precisely for this reason that it can be photographed at close range. A closer look at the hoopoe foraging on the ground shows that it is similar to a chicken's pecking, but it is more agile than a chicken, that is, it is walking quickly and nodding its head constantly. When the hoopoe crown is opened, it looks like a small fan that spreads, and once frightened, it is immediately retracted and attached to the head, which is very interesting to watch. The hoopoe is a well-known insectivorous bird that is beneficial for protecting forests and farmland because it can prey on a wide range of pests. As a beneficial bird in orchards and cultivated land, the hoopoe has been included in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, as well as China's List of Beneficial or Terrestrial Wild Animals with Important Economic and Scientific Research Value Protected by the State, and has been protected.