ANATOMY OF BIRDS
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
MIGRATIONS OF BIRDS
CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS
LIZARD-TAILED BIRD
AMERICAN TOOTHED-BIRDS
THE OSTRICHES
THE RHEAS
EMEUS AND CASSOWARIES
THE TINAMOUS
THE KIWIS
THE PENGUINS
LOONS AND GREBES
ALBATROSSES & PETRELS
STORK-LIKE BIRDS
GOOSE-LIKE BIRDS
FALCON-LIKE BIRDS
FOWL-LIKE BIRDS
CRANE-LIKE BIRDS
PLOVER-LIKE BIRDS
CUCKOO-LIKE BIRDS
THE ROLLER-LIKE BIRDS
SPARROW-LIKE BIRDS
Birds and Birding's Guide to:
Watching THE STORK-LIKE BIRDS
THE HAMMER-HEAD, OR UMBRETTE (Family Scopida)
The Hammer-head
The Hammer-head (Scopus umbretta), or Hammerkop, as it is called by the Boers, is widely distributed over tropical Africa, Arabia, and Madagascar, though nowhere very abundant. Andersson states that it is pretty generally diffused over Damara Land, where”it is generally observed singly or in pairs, and is of a fearless disposition, allowing a person to approach within range without difficulty.”It is there often met with during the rainy season, but moves to permanent waters as the rain-pools dry up.
Reichenow says it”is sociable only in a slight degree. It is usually found single except at the nest, in wooded districts, watching for fishes with its neck drawn in, or walking with measured steps in search of frogs, which, besides worms, snails, and insects, constitute its food. Its flight resembles that of the Ibises, neck and feet being carried straight out. Its voice is a harsh quack, similar to that of the Spoon-bill."
The nest of the Hammerkop is described as one of the most remarkable structures made by any African bird, being a huge, flattened, dome-shaped affair, often six feet or more in diameter and containing at least a large cart-load of sticks. It is built on a rocky ledge or perhaps more frequently in some large tree, each nest being the work of a single pair, and made use of for many years, being repaired or added to as required.
The nest, which is very strongly built, is provided with a single, rather small entrance ingeniously placed on the most inaccessible side, while within it is neatly plastered with mud and more or less divided into compartments. The nest is made use of by the birds the year round, and not infrequently several nests are found within a short distance,
Dr. Sharpe mentioning having seen six or eight within fifty yards. The eggs, three to five in number, are pure white, and small for the size of the bird. Both sexes appear to take part in the duties of incubation, and it is recorded that two and perhaps more broods are reared in a year. The Hammerkop has the habit, similar to that of the Australian Bower-bird, of embellishing its dwelling with any glittering or bright-colored object, such as bits of crockery, buttons, bleached bones, etc.
Footer
Footer