This is a Hamerkop, or Scopus umbretta, snapped from fairly close at Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. In Africa, this Ibis-like creature with a hammerhead –Hamerkop is Afrikaans for ‘hammerhead”– is one of a kind, never mistaken for another.
According to my edition of Birds of Uganda, a book I just had to buy, it’s associated with magic and bad omens in some societies, and as the ‘King of birds’ in others. It’s also hospitable. Its nests are among the largest in the bird kingdom, and they happily share their shelter with others. In this first set of images, it showed great patience, calmy posing on a bridge fence as I snapped a few shots.
And one more shot below, a pair of Hamerkops along the banks of the Kazinga Channel, also within the boundaries of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) in brief (with assist from WordPress AI but double-checked by me at Birds of the World and Wikipedia):
- Size: Approximately 55-60 cm (22-24 in) in length.
- Diet: Carnivorous; feeds on fish, crustaceans, frogs, insects, and small mammals.
- Habitat: Found near water bodies like rivers, lakes, and marshes in open savannas and wetlands.
- Physical Description: Distinctive large, brown body; long neck; stout bill; and a unique crest on the head.
- Breeding: Monogamous; nests built near water, often large and shared with other species; lays 3-6 eggs.
- Conservation Status: Currently listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, stable populations across its range.
- Unique Behaviors: Known for its large nests and cooperative behavior; exhibits patience and calmness when observed.
- Range and Migration: Native to sub-Saharan Africa; sedentary, does not engage in long-distance migration but may relocate locally in response to food availability.
Links for further reference:
- Hamerkop at Birds of the World
- Hamerkop at BirdLife DataZone
- Hamerkop at eBird
- Hamerkop at Avibase
- Hamerkop at Wikipedia
- Hamerkop at Oiseaux.net
- Hamerkop at iNaturalist
Photos from 29 and 30 March 2017.
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Added to the Bird of the Week post hosted by I.J on his site Don’t Hold Your Breath. He’s posted a beautiful Black-rumped flameback.
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Great captures Bob !
Wonderful. Please consider adding it to the Birds of the Week.
Thanks – it was a great one. I did add it – link is at the bottom of the post.
Some problem with the pingback
What a beak. This is so impressive and beautiful, Thank you, Love, nia
Wow! Wonderful shots.
Terrific photo
Wowza, Bob! From your first image to the next, I was taken back at this bird’s profile! What a beautiful, unique bird. Most definitely one-of-a-kind!
An absolute beauty. It was quite remarkable how laid back it seemed when we stopped to photograph it.
Excellent photographs of a very fascinating bird.