Hoopoe Upupa epops

The Hoopoe is a rare summer migrant from Africa to UK. The size of a small pigeon, it is a striking-looking bird when it raises its crest. Its range is across most of Eurasia, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The common English and Latin names mimic the bird's call.

Like a football match, it is a bird of two halves, the pink front end and the black- and white-striped back end.

Above is a young Hoopoe, still with white nodules at the base of its beak.

The Hoopoe photos in the row immediately above are by Dr Harsha Vardhan Reddy, used with his permission.