# Hamerkop (*Scopus umbretta*) The Hamerkop is a unique bird known for its hammer-shaped head. It builds huge nests that can be as big as a car! This bird loves to live near water and is often seen wading in shallow ponds. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Hamerkop](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Scopus_umbretta_-Serengeti%252C_Tanzania-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Joachim Huber, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scopus_umbretta_-Serengeti%252C_Tanzania-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Hamerkop has dull brown plumage and a unique head shape that resembles a hammer due to a crest at the back and a thick bill. It is a medium-sized bird with a relatively short neck and sturdy legs, blending well into its wetland environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Scopidae - **Genus:** Scopus ## Interesting facts - Hamerkops perform unique 'water dances' in small groups. - Legend says Hamerkops can predict storms, a feathered forecaster! - Some Hamerkop nests are strong enough to hold a human! - They often build 'decoy' nests to fool potential predators. ## Special abilities - **Super Nest Builder:** Hamerkops can construct enormous, dome-shaped nests over 1.5 meters wide because of their strong building instincts. - **Shadow Fishing:** Hamerkops can create shadows with their wings that help them attract and confuse small fish for easier hunting. - **Water Vision:** Hamerkops are able to locate and catch aquatic prey because of their keen eyesight in shallow, often murky, water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-56 cm - **Wingspan:** 90-98 cm - **Weight:** 0.43-0.47 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-7 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding Hamerkops mainly eat small aquatic animals like fish, frogs, and insects from shallow water. - **Primary Foods:** fish, tadpoles, frogs, insect larvae, small crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Nile Tilapia (*Oreochromis niloticus*) — A common fish prey item. - **Hunts:** African Clawed Frog (*Xenopus laevis*) — Preys on adults and tadpoles. - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — Can prey on foraging Hamerkops. - **Eaten by:** African Rock Python (*Python sebae*) — Eggs and chicks are vulnerable. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hamerkop? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Hamerkop? 50-56 cm ### What is Hamerkop's wingspan? 90-98 cm ### How much does Hamerkop weigh? 0.43-0.47 kg ### How long does Hamerkop live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Hamerkop move? 45 km/h ### What does Hamerkop eat? Hamerkops mainly eat small aquatic animals like fish, frogs, and insects from shallow water. ### Where is Hamerkop usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Hamerkop: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hamerkop)