Common Hoopoe

The Common Hoopoe is unmistakable: its body is warm cinnamon, the rounded wings and broad tail are boldly barred black and white, and the long narrow bill curves downward. A tall fan-shaped crest lies flat much of the time but rises when the bird is excited or alarmed. Its soft, repeated oop-oop-oop call often reveals it before it is seen. The combination of striped wings, crest and probing bill separates this species from every other regularly occurring bird in its broad Eurasian and African range. (Wikipedia, Hoopoe account)

Hoopoes require open or lightly wooded ground with bare soil or short vegetation for feeding and cavities for nesting. They also use orchards, vineyards, parkland and traditional farmland. Walking over the ground, they probe with the long bill for insects and larvae, while also taking spiders, worms and other small prey. Birds sunbathe with wings and tail spread low, and regularly take dust or sand baths. Northern populations migrate, while movements elsewhere may follow rainfall; migrants can cross very high mountain passes. (Wikipedia, Hoopoe account)