The hoopoe is an easily recognizable bird thanks to its distinctive plumage and striking, erectile crest. Its body is light brown with black and white stripes on its wings and tail. It has a long, curved beak, ideal for probing the ground in search of insects and larvae; it particularly enjoys mole crickets and cockchafers. The hoopoe’s song is a characteristic call, “hup-hup-hup,” which echoes through its preferred habitats such as grasslands, orchards, and wooded areas. It nests in tree hollows or wall cavities, laying 5 to 7 eggs; it also readily uses nest boxes. During the breeding season, which occurs mainly in the spring, the female incubates the eggs while the male forages for food. It is a migratory species that winters in tropical Africa.