Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
Also known as: Hammerkop
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
472 g
About This Species
A distinctive brown wading bird of African wetlands, rivers and mudflats, best known for its huge hammer-shaped head crest and its enormous stick nests built in tall trees near water. Watch for solitary birds stalking slowly through shallows hunting frogs and fish, generally active around dawn and dusk and easiest to find near permanent water year-round.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Observe from the water's edge or a vehicle rather than approaching directly, since wading birds flush easily and repeated disturbance at foraging sites reduces feeding success.
- Wildlife protection frameworks differ across the many African countries in its range, so follow the rules of the specific reserve or park you are visiting.
- Its large stick nests are conspicuous and long-used; avoid approaching or climbing near an active one.
LCAvesPelecaniformesScopidae
Seasonal Activity
191,005 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Scopidae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 472 g
Photo
(c) Pavel Shukov, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pavel Shukov
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.