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The Hoopoe Upupa epops is in the same order of often colourful near passerine birds as the kingfishers, bee-eaters, and rollers.

However, in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, Hoopoe is separated from the Coraciiformes as a separate order Upupiformes.

Hoopoes are widespread in Europe Asia and North Africa. They migrateLong-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern he from all but the southernmost part of their range to the tropics in winter.

Their habitat is open cultivated ground with short grass or bare patches. They spend much time on the ground hunting insects and worms.

This black, white and pink bird is quite unmistakable, especially in its erratic flight, like a giant butterflyFor other uses of the term "butterfly", see butterfly (disambiguation). Superfamily Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae Superfamily Papilionoidea: Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae Libytheidae Lyceanidae A butterfly is a flying insect of the o. The crest is erectile, but is mostly kept closed. It walks on the ground like a starlingAplonis ''Poeoptera ''Grafisia ''Onychognathus ''Lamprotornis ''Aplonis ''Aplonis ''Cinnyricinclus ''Speculipastor ''Neochicla ''Spreo ''Cosmoparus ''Sarroglossa ''Creatophora ''Fregilupus (extinct) Sturnus ''Leucopsar ''Basilornis ''Streptocitta ''Sarcop.

The song is a trisyllabic “oop-oop-oop”, which gives rise to its English and scientific names.

The nest is in a hole in a tree or wall. Like those of its relatives the kingfishers, the nest tends to be smelly and unsanitary.

The long-extinct Giant Hoopoe, U. anaios lived on the island of St Helena.