Local resident Aizhan Atakeeva shared her impressions: “I noticed a hoopoe near the melting snow. It looked quite energetic, and when I tried to get closer, it quickly moved from one place to another. How did it end up in the Chui region in February? It’s amazing!”.
Ecologist Alexander Sosnovsky commented on this phenomenon, noting that the hoopoe is an interesting bird from the order Upupiformes, characterized by its bright plumage and appearance reminiscent of tropical birds. Hoopoes are so unique in their structure compared to other representatives of this order that some researchers classify them into a separate group, which also includes hornbills.
Sosnovsky emphasized that the appearance of the hoopoe in February is an anomaly. “This bird leaves Kyrgyzstan at the end of August and returns only in early May, which is related to its dietary habits. Hoopoes feed on insects, using their curved beak to search for food in crevices and under stones. With the cold, many insects disappear, and birds face challenges with nourishment,” he added.
Hoopoes usually build nests in tree hollows, burrows, or crevices of buildings, but they often choose places in stone heaps and voids. Predators are not ready to mess with hoopoes, as they can defend themselves by spraying an unpleasant odor and caustic substance from their uropygial gland, which deters potential enemies,” the ecologist explained.
