Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 140, August 2016, pp. 1-21. | Page 7

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A Hoopoe at the Gaza Sea Shore near the Fishermen Port, Gaza, Palestine. Photo by my
friend the Researcher Ayman Dardouna from Gaza, Palestine. 19.11.2014.
Hoopoe is a territorial animal. Territory is usually populated with a single
mating couple. Male will readily fight with intruders to defend its territory.
Fights can be very violent and may end with serious eye injuries that can lead to
blindness (Soft Schools).
Hoopoe requires cooler climate for breeding. Nests are built in the cavities of
trees and stones. They have narrow entrance which prevents predators from
entering.
Female is responsible for the nest and for the eggs until the hatching. Male feeds
the female during this period.
Female secretes a substance of foul odor from the uropygial gland. This liquid
smells like rotten meat. Due to unpleasant smell, most predators will stay away
from the nest. On the other hand, insects (hoopoe's food) will be attracted.
Number of eggs depends on the climate. It can range from 7 to 12 eggs per
season. Eggs are milky white in color. They will hatch after incubation period of
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 140 – August 2016