'Hidhud' of Culture

'Hudhud' of Culture

Ever since my childhood, I have been fascinated by the “crown of feathers’ of  Hoopoe   with its long tapering bill, foraying for insects and seeds in our school ground with its distinct call that gave its nomenclature. Little I knew that this bird was centre-piece of cultural ethos spanning across continents of Asia, Africa and Europe , with number of folktales woven around it.  

Hoopoe  is distinguished by its colorful complexion, its long, swooping beak and slicked back tuft of hair. The bird builds its nest in tree holes and has a notoriously fetid odor, keeping excrement in its lair to ward off intruders. To protect the nest from predators, the hoopoes use a wide variety of defenses. The female produces a foul-smelling secretion from her glands, and coats the plumage of the chicks with it. This smell keeps predators and parasites away, while also acting as an antibacterial agent. Also, a week after hatching, the babies can shoot streams of their feces towards predators, while hissing loudly like a snake to scare them away. The birds may also stab with their sharp bills, and hit out with their wings, when threatened.

In Islamic tradition , it is believed that Hoopoe obtained its golden crest from King Solomon for “not paying homage to women.” As the story goes, Hoopoe was hunted for the golden crest and finally pleaded with the King to remove its Golden Crest. The king turned that golden crest into fine feathers. The relationship of the bird does find reference in the holy book, the Quran. When the King declared publically to punish Hoopoe for its absence in the court, Hoopoe who was eavesdropping returned to tell the King that he found a thing that the King had not comprehended. It said that he has come from Sheba with some happy “tidings.” Sheba later became the Kings Queen. The saying, “ A little bird told me….”  probably originated from this event.  Unsure about the queen's purity and motives, Solomon confided in the bird and trusted its advice. The king also praised the hoopoe's observation techniques and called it "wise." In Quran , it is called “Hudhud”.

There is an interesting  though infamous tale in “Metamophese” by Ovid. King Terus of Thrace rapes the sister named Philomela of his wife Procene and cuts off her tongue. Procene as a revenge kills their son Itys and serves as a stew to his father. When Terus sees the head of the boy, he picks up the sword to kill the sisters but they turn into birds, Philomela into a nightingale , Procene into a swallow while he himself becomes a hoopoe. The bird’s crest is believed to project his royal status and its long sharp beak is a indicative of the violent nature.

In Oriental-Semitic traditions, the hoopoe is considered as a waterfinder, a natural “opener”. The hoopoe is said to be able to see through the earth and reveal hidden springs, endearing it to those living in desert areas. In Persian culture, it is seen as a bird of virtue.

In the epic Persian poem “The Conference of Birds” or “the Speech of Birds” by Attar of Nishapur, birds from across the world gather to decide who shall be their leader. Hoopoe, being wisest of all, suggest that they need to find the legendary bird Simrogh for which they will have to cross the seven valleys of Quest, Love, Knowledge, Detachment, Unity,  Wonderment, Poverty and Annihilation. On hearing the description of these valleys, they bow their heads in distress; some even die of fright right then and there. But despite their trepidations, they begin the great journey with Hoopoe leading the journey. On the way, many perish of thirst, heat or illness, while others fall prey to wild beasts, panic, and violence. Finally, only thirty birds make it to the abode of Simorgh where they see their own reflection in a lake. They eventually understand that they themselves are the Simorgh; the name “Simorgh” in Persian means thirty (si) birds (morgh).

 In Egypt, during the time of the Pharaohs, it was regarded as sacred. The same applied in Minoan Crete, where it was depicted on wall paintings in temples and tombs.  Even today it remains a popular status symbol, being chosen in 2008 as the national bird of Israel .