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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source ↗
Hamerkop
Hamerkop · Scopus umbretta
The Hamerkop is a brown waterbird whose name means 'hammer head', because the crest at the back of its head and its bill together look like a hammer. It hunts frogs and fish in shallow water, often shuffling its feet to stir up prey. It is famous for building one of the biggest, sturdiest nests of any bird.
Log your Hamerkop sighting — free →How to identify it
Look for the hammer-shaped head, with a backward crest balancing its long bill, on an all-brown body.
Listen for its call
A loud, excited 'yip-purr' of nasal squeaks, often given in flight or by a noisy group.
Where to see it in Kruger
Common along nearly every river, stream and dam in Kruger, often seen perched near water.
Did you know
A Hamerkop's giant stick nest can be over a metre wide and strong enough to hold a grown person's weight!
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