Andrew Chick Ecology

Hoopoes are considered rare but regular visitors to the UK. They’re not resident birds here, but each spring, typically between March and May, a small number of them, usually around 100 or so, arrive as passage migrants, most often overshooting their usual migration route from Africa to southern Europe. These striking birds, with their distinctive crests and zebra-striped wings, tend to show up along the south coast of England, particularly in areas like Cornwall, Devon, and Kent, though they can occasionally be spotted further inland or in Wales and Scotland during migration.

The best time to see Hoopoes in the UK is during spring, when they’re most likely to appear as they migrate north. A smaller number are sometimes recorded again in autumn as they make their return journey, but spring remains the peak time for sightings.

As for breeding, it’s extremely rare. There have been only a handful of confirmed breeding attempts in the UK, and successful breeding is even more uncommon. The UK climate and habitat aren’t ideal for them long-term, which is why they haven’t established a resident population.

So while they’re an exciting and exotic-looking bird to see in Britain, catching sight of one is still a bit of a treat for birders… something to keep an eye out for during those key migration windows.