Hoopoe

The Hoopoe says 'doo doo'.

The Ostrich is the largest bird, the Wren the smallest; the Owl is the most despicable; the Hoopoe the most dirty (as it eats dung); the Bird of Paradise is most rare.

According to an anecdote, a Hungarian ornithologist was invited to give a lecture on his field in East Germany, and a Hungarian student who studied there was asked to interpret. The lecture started, the first picture was shown, with the following words: "This is a hoopoe with perching legs and a double-feathered crest that can be made erect or decumbent.” The explanation was followed by an awkward silence and after long, painful minutes, the interpreter started to speak: “Vogel!” (bird).

The common hoopoe is recognisable by its elongate body; long, slender, slightly curved, and pointed beak (which is much compressed at its sides); and short powerful foot armed with blunt claws.

Time was, it is said, when the Hoopoe had no crest, and he only got one granted by royal favour.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:hoopoe.