Hamerkop Scopus umbretta Scientific name definitions

50–56 cm; 415–430 g. Unmistakable . Iridescent purplish gloss on back. Juvenile similar to adult. Race <em>minor</em> smaller and darker.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Wetlands of a wide variety, including estuaries, riverbanks, lakesides , fish ponds, irrigation schemes; also along rocky coasts in Tanzania. Usually requires trees (e.g. Khaya senegalensis) for nesting and also for roosting.

Sedentary, often with local movements; rarely occupies same nest for more than a few months. Some dispersal during rains, in drier areas.

Mostly amphibians, especially frogs and tadpoles of genus Xenopus; in Mali, almost exclusively small fish (e.g. young Tilapia); also takes crustaceans  , worms, insects, etc. Normally wades in shallows ; sometimes whisks prey off surface of water in flight.

Rather silent when alone, but vocal when with others. In flight utters repeated short, sharp high-pitched nasal calls “yip” or “nyip”, or alternatively “kek”. When excited or in display utters a series of nasal notes ending in a purring rattle “yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-prrrrrrrrr” or similar.

Year-round in E Africa , elsewhere peaks at different times, mostly during late rains or dry season. Renowned for its extraordinarily elaborate large stick nest with a central chamber, usually sited in fork of tree  . Multiple nests often built by a pair, some of which may never be used. A diversity of other animal species take advantage of unoccupied nests as breeding sites or dens: see Family introduction for examples. Normally 3–6 eggs; incubation 28–32 days; chicks have grey down and broad, blunt bill ; fledging 44–50 days; age of sexual maturity unknown. Breeding success variable, c. 0·3–0·9 chicks fledged per pair per year. Nesting not generally colonial but aggregations of nests reported from locations where species abundant. Exceptional aggregations reported in 2004 from Uganda, near L Victoria: there were 639 nests in an area of 8 km² near Entebbe and 56 nests at a site in Queen Elizabeth National Park (1 Kaweesa, S. H., Jonkvorst, R. J., Katebaka, R., Ssemmanda, R., Pomeroy, D. and Brouwer, J. (2013). Is the Hamerkop Scopus umbretta a neo-colonist or an opportunist nester? Scopus. 32: 35–38. Close ). Although a single pair may build multiple nests such aggregations imply large concentrations of birds and availability of rich food sources. 

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Frequent to locally abundant in African range; widespread and locally common in Madagascar. Protected by native superstition. Probably increasing at present due to creation of artificial wetlands, though could suffer from deterioration of water quality caused by excessive use of pesticides.