The Eurasian hoopoe is Israel’s national bird, and many of its migratory populations travel between Europe and Africa.
Eurasian hoopoes breed across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Birds from temperate Europe generally move south to winter in Africa, while populations in warmer regions may stay year-round. Their broad range means migration patterns vary by location rather than following one single route.
The hoopoe is recognizable by its long, narrow bill, orange-brown crest tipped with black, and striking black-and-white wings. It searches open ground for insects and larvae, probing soft soil with its bill. Its distinctive call is a soft, repeated “hoop,” which inspired the English name.
Israel declared the hoopoe its national bird in 2008 after a public vote. The species is not the same as the African hoopoe, which some older classifications treated as a separate form; modern references generally place these birds within the Eurasian hoopoe species.