Fun Facts!

Hammerkops watch people watching hammerkops!

Whenever people create new bodies of water with dams or canals, hammerkops move in quickly.

The Bushmen of the Kalahari desert in Southern Africa believed that anyone hit by lightning had tried to rob a hammerkop nest.

Hammerkop

Scopus umbretta

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

A medium-sized wading bird of dark brown to iridescent purple plumage, the hammerkop, or hammerhead stork, is about 22 inches long and weighs about a pound. Its head has a curved bill and a crest at the back, resembling a hammer’s head. Its neck and legs are shorter than most storks. It has a short tail and its wings are big, sometimes spanning as much as 8 feet. They are generally silent but emit shrill calls when together in groups.

HABITAT

Found in Africa south of the Sahara, generally in Madagascar and also coastal southwest Arabia in wetlands, irrigated rice paddies, savannahs and forests.

DIET IN THE WILD

They are carnivores, who feed during the day, usually alone or in pairs. They primarily eat tadpoles and frogs, but also eat insects, shrimp, fish, and small rodents.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

They have no apparent predators, and are plentiful and not protected. There are no conservation measures needed.

LIFE SPAN

Life span of the hammerkop in the wild is unknown. In captivity, hammerkops can live as much as 30-40 years.