While stepping out of my hotel in Luxor I encountered this marvelously crested fellow: the Hoopoe (Upupa epops). I watched him grub the soft ground with that long beak.
Beyond its striking colors, this bird carries a heavy crown of history. In ancient Egypt, the hoopoe was a symbol of royalty. In Islamic folklore, they were messengers for King Solomon. In the Bible they made the “do not eat” list (Lev 11:13-19 and Deut 14:11-18).
Did you know? In Arabic, the hoopoe is called a hudhud. Go ahead and say it out loud—it’s as fun to say as this marvelous bird is to watch.
