Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 140, August 2016, pp. 1-21. | Page 10

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Ten species of birds were selected after meeting various criteria (e.g. the bird
must nest in Israel, and has a link to Jewish heritage). The candidates were: the
Griffon Vulture, the Barn Owl, the Lesser Kestrel, the Graceful Prinia, the Whitethroated Kingfisher, the Hoopoe, the Goldfinch, the Bulbul, the Spur-winged
Plover and the Palestine Sunbird. The Hoopoe was selected as the National Bird
by a majority vote, with the Graceful Prinia coming in second and the Goldfinch
third. The President of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres declared the Hoopoe as the
National Bird of Israel at an official ceremony held at the President's Residence
(Palyam.org).

The Hoopoe. Israel Stamp. Date of Issue 27.01.2010. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/b8zoXhWeQyg/TXvjl_dCPGI/AAAAAAAAAoc/5zqwMJ5Y4g4/s1600/Hoopoe%2Bon
%2BIsrael%2Bstamp.jpg
Hoopoe - The National Bird of Israel (Upupa epops; Hebrew: Dukhifat): The
Hoopoe is a beautiful bird noted for its orange "crown" of feathers. It is orange in
color, with shades of black and white on its wings and tail, making its flight
comparable to that of a large butterfly. The Hoopoe population is resident in
Israel and it nests in holes in tree trunks and vertical walls of homes. Its beak is
long, thin and curved and its tongue is long and sticky. The Hoopoe gathers food
from the ground with the help of its long beak. Its monotone song, "hood, hood"
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 140 – August 2016