The Comical Hamerkop

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I invite you to listen to the call of this bird. It rather fits the way it looks. With a hammer-shaped head and a confident strut this bird is hard to ignore, which secured it a place of one of South Africa’s most widely recognised birds.

The names given to this bird include, Rainbird, Lightning Bird and Bird of the Heavens. In the rich South African context there is always multiple folklore stories depending on the cultural lens you put on. The Nguni folklore tells the story that the powerful flapping of the wings bring thunder. Farmers look dearingly upon this bird as it is believed to bring good rains.

What makes this bird the most fascinating is the nest that it constructs for breeding. It does not seem like a work of art at first glance, but this massive dome-like structure is made up of thousands of sticks, that may take 40-43 days up to several months to build, and if left undisturbed, used for 4 years.

These birds are monogamous, solitary nesters and they build the nest as a pair. During the nestling period, the male brings mud to the female, which she uses to line the inside of the nest. When the nest is completed it can measure up to 1.5 meters in diamer, while the entrance measures about 15cm. The finished product may look messy, but it can hold the weight of a full-grown man.