கொண்டலாத்தி குருவி ~ National bird of Israel

இந்த அழகான பறவை மரங்கொத்தியல்ல  !  - இதன் பெயர் :  "கொண்டலாத்தி குருவி"  -  இதற்கு  எழுத்தாணிக் குருவி, சாவல்குருவி, புளுக்கொத்தி, கொண்டை வளர்த்தி, கொண்டை உலர்த்தி, விசிறிக்கொண்டைக் குருவி  என்று பல பெயர்கள் உண்டாம்.  கட்டிடங்கள் மற்றும் பாறை இடுக்குகளில் இடையில் கூடு அமைத்து இனப்பெருக்கம் செய்யும் பறவை; . இதன் அலகு நீண்டு இருப்பதால் இதனை மரங்கொத்தி என மக்கள் தவறாக கருதுவர்.   இவற்றின் தனித்துவமான "கிரீடம்" இறகுகள் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

 

On a recent visit saw this beautiful bird in the fields of Thiruvali, Nangur divyadesam nearer Sirkali -  first thought it to be ‘Woodpecker’ but read it to be ‘Hoopoe’ – the National bird of the State of Israel. 

Hoopoes (ˈhuːpoʊ/) are colourful birds found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, notable for their distinctive "crown" of feathers. Three living and one extinct species are recognized, though for many years all of the extant species were lumped as a single species—Upupa epops. The Eurasian hoopoe is common in its range and has a large population, so it is evaluated as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, their numbers are declining in Western Europe. 

The genus Upupa was introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae.  The names in Latin and Greek are onomatopoeic forms which imitate the cry of the bird.  The hoopoe was classified in the clade Coraciiformes, which also includes kingfishers, bee-eaters, and rollers.    

The hoopoe was chosen as the national bird of the State of Israel in May 2008 in conjunction with the country's 60^th anniversary, following a national survey of 155,000 citizens, outpolling the white-spectacled bulbul.  It was declared National bird by  President Shimon Peres. 

The Hoopoe figures in mythologies of Arabic, Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and other cultures.   According to Jewish folklore, the hoopoe helped lead King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba. Unsure about the queen's purity and motives, Solomon confided in the bird and trusted its advice. The king also praised the hoopoe's observation techniques and called it "wise."

In the race for modern national primacy, it easily met the strict competition criteria. The winner had to represent Israel's character, be a permanent resident of the country and appear in Jewish tradition. Israel is home to around 540 bird species. But bird-lovers had the chance to choose their favorite one from a shortlist of 10 species compiled by ornithologists. Ballots were placed across the country, including in national parks.  Tens of thousands of schoolchildren and soldiers took part in the vote, which was also held in 40 Israeli embassies and consulates worldwide. The hoopoe,  received 35 percent of the vote, the warbler (pashosh) came second with 10.3%, and the finch (chochit) took third place with 9.8%. In announcing the hoopoe's landslide victory in the nationwide vote by over 155,000 people, President Shimon Peres said the primaries were the most successful in Israel's 60 years of statehood, but expressed regret that "the most Zionist bird in nature," the dove, had failed to make the finals. "

 

Interesting !
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
7^th Apr 2024.