Migratory Birds

Hoopoe Welfare and Insect Availability on Migration

Hoopoes are irregular visitors to the UK, occasionally breeding in warm summers. Their welfare during migration and potential UK breeding depends heavily on soil invertebrate availability, particularly mole crickets and beetle larvae.

Key Facts

Hoopoes are resident in southern Europe but occasionally breed in warm UK summers
They probe soil with their long curved bills for mole crickets, beetle larvae, and earthworms
Climate change is increasing the frequency of hoopoe sightings in UK and northern Europe
Soil invertebrate decline from pesticides and compaction threatens hoopoe food availability
They nest in holes in old trees, walls, and buildings requiring traditional orchards and rough ground

Welfare Considerations

Hoopoes on migration through agricultural landscapes face prey depletion in invertebrate-poor soils. Breeding pairs that establish in warm UK summers need high densities of large soil invertebrates within foraging distance of the nest. The welfare of any UK-breeding pairs is directly dependent on soil health and pesticide management in the surrounding landscape. Soil improvement through organic farming supports hoopoe welfare on passage.

What You Can Do

Create or maintain traditional orchards with rough ground and old trees for potential hoopoe nesting
Reduce pesticide use to support soil invertebrate communities
Report hoopoe sightings to BirdTrack immediately to support range monitoring
Support organic farming certification as habitat for hoopoe passage staging
Donate to BTO and RSPB monitoring programs for rare breeding birds