Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
The Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) is a uncommon hamerkop found in 46 countries, weighing about 472 g. The hamerkop, also called the umbrette, is a medium-sized bird.
About the Hamerkop
The hamerkop, also called the umbrette, is a medium-sized bird. It is the only living species in the genus Scopus and the family Scopidae. The species and family was long thought to sit with the Ciconiiformes but is now placed with the Pelecaniformes, and its closest relatives are thought to be the pelicans and the shoebill. The shape of its head with a long bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, which has given this species its name after the Afrikaans word for hammerhead. It is a medium-sized waterbird with brown plumage. It is found in mainland Africa, Madagascar and Arabia, living in a wide variety of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The hamerkop is a medium-sized waterbird, standing 56 cm (22 in) high and weighing 470 g (17 oz), although the subspecies S. u. minor is smaller. Its plumage is a drab brown with purple iridescence on the back; S. u. minor is darker. The tail is faintly barred with darker brown. The sexes are alike and fledglings resemble adults. The bill is long, 80 to 85 mm (3.1–3.3 in), and slightly hooked at the end. It resembles the bill of a shoebill, and is quite compressed and thin, particularly at the lower half of the mandible.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Hamerkop can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Hamerkop on live cams
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Quick questions
- How do you identify a Hamerkop?
- The hamerkop is a medium-sized waterbird, standing 56 cm (22 in) high and weighing 470 g (17 oz), although the subspecies S. u. minor is smaller. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Hamerkop?
- The Hamerkop is a large sized bird weighing about 472 g.
- Where can you see a Hamerkop?
- The Hamerkop occurs in 46 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
- Is the Hamerkop endangered?
- The Hamerkop is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Hamerkop for real
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