Introducing the Birdorable Hamerkop

Hamerkop

The first new Birdorable bird of 2010 is this Hamerkop, a bird that lives in sub-Saharan Africa. They get their name from their hammer-shaped heads and they are also known as Hammerhead Stork or Anvilhead. We saw these birds on our trip to the Gambia a couple of years ago and instantly fell in love with these little fellows. They have such a cute head and the large bill makes it look like they're always smiling. Check out this gorgeous one sporting a nice stick for its nest.

Hamerkop

Talking about nests, these birds are famous for them. Their huge nests, often built in the fork of a tree, can grow to over 5 feet (1.5 meters) across and made with over 10,000 sticks! That's one busy bird! A Hamerkop's nest is strong enough to support a man's weight. The birds like to decorate the outside of their nest with bright-colored objects that they find in the area. We saw one of these large nests, which you can see in the following picture.

Hamerkop

If you like our Hamerkop check out our other African birds. Another favorite of ours from our trip to the Gambia was the Egyptian Plover.

Comments

Ashira on January 6, 2010 at 10:33 AM wrote:
EEHEE! ^____^ So CUTE!
Louise Warner on February 26, 2017 at 2:18 PM wrote:
how do u say that? is it ( HAM-UR- KUP ) or ( HUM-A-KOP? )
Andrew on September 25, 2018 at 9:07 PM wrote:
what the hamerkop birds do.
Spurwing Plover on April 12, 2020 at 5:04 AM wrote:
Some in Africa beleive they bring or cause Thunder their also called Hammer Head Stork
Spurwing Plover on February 2, 2022 at 8:04 AM wrote:
The Disney Channel Program had a Episode Ono's Egg Ono a Cattle Egret member of te Lion Guard ends up as Big Brother to young Hammer Kop named Ona for him
Spurwing Plover on May 26, 2022 at 7:19 AM wrote:
They build a huge Nest

Leave a comment

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.
Your email address will not be published

2013 Bonanza Bird #12: Great Kiskadee

Today a beautiful flycatcher joins Birdorable! Today's Bonanza bird is the Great Kiskadee. Great Kiskadees are large flycatchers - the largest of all in the tyrant flycatcher family. They are also colorful, a pleasing mix of warm brown, black, white, and...

T-Shirt Tuesday: Pair of Belted Kingfishers

If you live in North America and you love birds then you are probably familiar with the Belted Kingfisher, which can be found across the continent from coast to coast. This cute design features a pair of Birdorable Belted Kingfishers. Can you tell the difference between...

A Closer Look at the Crested Owl: The Owl with Elegant White Crests

Today’s new species is a very special type of owl with a unique look. The Crested Owl, as the name suggests, is known for the striking long white head crests that adorn its crown. These crests extend upward from what appear...

Introducing the Blossom-Headed Parakeet: A Parrot with a Floral Diet

Our 2013 Birdorable Bonanza continues with the exciting addition of a new and enchanting parakeet species! Today, we are thrilled to introduce the Blossom-headed Parakeet to our diverse bird family. The Blossom-headed Parakeet, a stunning species of parrot,...