Israel’s national bird spotted in Kerala

Hoopoe was sighted at Kayamkulam recently.

A rare migratory bird, Hoopoe, has been sighted at Kayamkulam. The bird belonging to an endangered species, is characterised by a crown of feathers and a cry ‘oop, oop’, from which it derives its name.

The migratory bird is a rare sight in Kerala, says Harikumar, a bird watcher, who, along with Srimon, Secretary of Alappuzha Natural History society, had spotted the bird at the TKMM College grounds.

Hoopoe is the national bird of Israel. Its features include black and white stripes on its wings and tail. Its flight resembles that of a giant butterfly.

“It is a dryland species found outside Kerala, mostly in Tamil Nadu. The sighting in Alappuzha is rare. Two years ago, a Hoopoe was found at Nooranad,” he said.