Tenerife forum

[DaveR]

I was out walking the dog earlier today ( more of a 10 mile hike than a walk LOL) when I saw this bird very close to me. I have tried to identify it on the internet but have not been able to.

It had black and white stripped and spotted wings and a fawn coloured body. It was a bit bigger than a Dove. The most amazing thing was the brightly coloured tuft on the back of it's head which it kept opening into a beautiful crest.

I saw it as I walked back into the village through the gardens of the apartments in Sueno Azul in Callao Salvaje. It was only about 3 or four yards from me and seemed totally unnerved by either me or the dog.

Any ideas on species?

Thanks in anticipation.

[rob]

It's called a hoopoe.

It has a distinctive call usually early morning in the mating season. whoop whoop whoop
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[DaveR]

Thanks Rob here is a picture I have found in case anyone else is interested.

http://www.pbase.com/image/21799524

So are they quite common in Tenerife? Can anyone recommend a website that shows you all birds in Tenerife?

[rob]

I don't know of a website but there is a good book David Collins' "A birdwatchers guide to the Canary Islands"
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[DaveR]

[karlb]

Looks like a bit like a Jay.

I didn't know you did bird impressions Rob

Maybe you can do a few more at the bbq for us, including the Hoopoe of course.
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[DaveR]

[rob]