First, it has been raining steadily since it was light enough this morning to take pictures, and second, my laptop died last evening, and this loaner I’m typing on right now doesn’t have a slot for reading the chip from my camera, so I wouldn’t be able to show you any pictures from today anyway.
Thus, I need to go to the archives, and since Anne and I are leaving for Malawi again tomorrow morning, let me refresh your memory of some sights I hope to see again in the coming days. Near the top of my list must be the incredible African hoopoe.
They came up just recently in a conversation I was having with a prominent local birder as we were going to a birding trivia event, because that’s what I do now. She asked “what are they related to,” and I didn’t know so I asked Dr Google, of course. It turns out the surprising answer is “not closely to much!”
They are in the genus Upupa, which contains only two other, similar-looking species: the Eurasian hoopoe and the Madagascar hoopoe.
That genus is in the family Upupidae, which contains only that genus!
We have to go all the way up to order Bucerotiformes to include any other birds, specifically, the hornbills, ground hornbills, and wood hoopoes.
Finally, I’m sure you will all be as relieved as I am to find that they are indeed in the class Aves, which contains all the other birds. Phew!
Anyway, wish me luck!
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 