Goebel Figurine Bird of the Year 2022 - Hoopoe, Bisque Porcelain, Colorful, 17 cm, 38473271

The hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a well-known bird from the folk song The Bird Wedding: The hoopoe, the hoopoe, he brings the bride a flowerpot. Once widespread, the population in Central Europe has declined to just a few thousand birds. 800 to 950 pairs breed in Germany, but just under 12 in Bavaria. Migratory hoopoes returning to Central Europe from their wintering grounds in Central Africa can also be seen again and again in Bavaria. The hoopoe prefers open landscapes with a warm, dry microclimate and short vegetation. This heat-loving bird can be seen in orchards or vineyards in the summer months. The hoopoe spends most of the year in Africa. It begins its journey there in mid-July and returns to Central Europe at the end of April. The almost 30 cm tall bird has a wingspan of 45 cm and is slightly smaller than a magpie. Its long, thin, curved beak and its distinctive crest are striking. The bird raises these like a comb when excited. It is one of the brightly patterned native breeding birds. The body plumage of the short-legged bird is light orange-brown, and the wings and tail are banded in contrasting black and white. Young birds drive away enemies at the nest with a foul-smelling secretion. This is where the saying "You stink like a hoopoe" comes from. The hoopoe's diet includes large insects such as mole crickets, various beetles and grubs, as well as larger butterfly caterpillars. The hoopoe also occasionally eats small vertebrates such as lizards. It hunts its prey on the ground in sparsely vegetated areas with a high structural diversity.

• Made of high-quality biscuit porcelain
• Designed with great attention to detail
• Masterfully handcrafted
• An ideal gift
• Elegant, timeless design

Mass:
Length: 13.5 cm
Width: 16.5 cm
Height: 17 cm

Material: biscuit porcelain
Color / Decor: Colorful
Series: Bird of the Year

Manufacturer article number: 38473271