Hamerkop stood at the waters edge at Paignton Zoo in Devon, UK

Hamerkop

You can find two hamerkops at Paignton Zoo up in the ABC aviaries.

HamerkopScopus umbretta

  • Class:

    Aves

  • Order:

    Pelecaniformes

  • Family:

    Scopidae

About the hamerkop

The hamerkop is native to wetlands and river edges throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa. Its name means “hammer head”, referring to the shape of its head and crest.

It feeds on fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates, and is known for constructing enormous dome-shaped nests.

Conservation

The species is classified as Least Concern, though wetland degradation in parts of Africa may affect local populations.