Breeding Hoopoes in Leicestershire!

Hoopoe; Carl Baggott

A pair of Hoopoes have bred in Leicestershire! A pair raised three young at a private site in the County. After being seen in May they became elusive but the male was heard singing in June. On 18th July the adults reappeared with three more birds in tow, which from photographs could be seen to be juveniles. Around the same time, they were seen in another garden and a video showed an adult with three juveniles and the adult was seen to feed one of the juveniles. This is the first confirmed record in Britain since 1996 when a pair bred in Montgomery, Wales. Prior to that four pairs bred in southern England in 1977.

Hoopoe family party, Leicestershire – if you look closely all five birds can be seen.

Carl Baggott, County Bird Recorder for Leicestershire & Rutland