A rare and exotic bird, the hoopoe, has been making appearances across the UK this month, with confirmed sightings in Gloucestershire, Devon, Cornwall, Kent, Essex, and Dorset. Birdwatchers have reported an unusual surge in observations during April 2026, particularly along the southern coastline.
The hoopoe, described by the RSPB as 'an exotic looking bird that is the size of a mistle thrush', features a pinkish-brown body, striking black and white wings, a black downcurved bill, and a crest it raises when excited. While these birds rarely nest in Britain, they frequently appear briefly during spring as they journey north from Africa, often overshooting and landing on the south coast.
The Kent Ornithological Society documented hoopoe observations in their highlights of the week on April 10, noting an influx continued with sightings at North Foreland, Bough Beech, Farringham, and St Nicolas at Wade. In Devon, a Facebook user reported a hoopoe on Dartmoor, garnering over 4,000 reactions, while another member heard the bird near Warleigh Estate in Plymouth.
The RSPB records an annual average passage of 100 hoopoe birds, though some suggest more have been spotted this spring. While they do not typically breed in the UK, a pair successfully raised young in Leicestershire and Rutland in 2023, the first confirmed breeding since 1996.
For those lucky enough to spot one, be warned: if alarmed, the hoopoe releases a fluid that stinks of rotting meat from a gland above the tail. The bird feeds on insects and is instantly recognisable by its black and white striped wings, elaborate crest, and distinctive 'oop-oop-oop' call.
