icon of person Membership icon of ticket Buy Tickets

 

Wading in shallow water, the hamerkop rakes its bill along the bottom in search of frogs and fish. Every so often, the bird flaps its wings to flush prey out of hiding. It also hunts on the fly. Spotting prey from above, the hamerkop dives down to scoop it up.

 

hamerkop

Did You Know?

The hamerkop is named for how the shape of its heavy bill and large head crest resembles a hammer.

Quick Facts

Latin Name:
Scopus umbretta

Range:
Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and southwestern Asia

Length:
1.8 ft

Zoo Location:
Birds of the World

Diet:
Frogs, fish, crustaceans, worms, and insects