About the Hamerkop
The hamerkop, also called the umbrette, is a medium-sized water bird with brown plumage. It is found in mainland Africa, Madagascar and Arabia, living in a wide variety of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and rocky coasts. The shape of its head, with its long bill and crest at the back, gives this species its name, hamerkop being the Afrikaans word for hammerhead. Long considered to sit with the Ciconiiformes, the species and its family is now placed with the Pelecaniformes, its closest relatives thought to be the pelicans and the shoebill. It is the only living species in the genus Scopus and the family Scopidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Hamerkop (Scopidae) |
| Species | Scopus umbretta |
| Species Codes | hamerk1, HAME |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Hamerkop belong to?
The Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) belongs to the Hamerkop family (Scopidae), in the order Pelecaniformes.
How can I identify the Hamerkop?
The hamerkop, also called the umbrette, is a medium-sized water bird with brown plumage. It is found in mainland Africa, Madagascar and Arabia, living in a wide variety of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and rocky coasts. The shape of its head, with its long bill an...
Where can I report a Hamerkop sighting?
You can log sightings of Hamerkop on eBird (ebird.org) using species code hamerk1, or on iNaturalist.