Rare exotic bird spotted across the UK with multiple reports of sightings

Rare exotic bird spotted across the UK with multiple reports of sightings‘Influx’ as rare bird with a “oop-oop-oop” call is seen in several UK areas as multiple reports of sightings flood inCommentsNewsKatie Oborn Audience Writer10:58, 19 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThe hoopoe bird has black and white striped wings, extravagant head feathers and makes a “oop-oop-oop” call(Image: Igor Gebles via Getty Images )An exotic bird has been spotted across the UK this month with sightings in Gloucestershire, Devon, Cornwall, Kent, Essex and Dorset. Residents and keen birdwatchers have described noticing an ‘influx’ of these striking birds in April 2026 with numerous reports across the south of Britain.‌Hoopoe “is an exotic looking bird that is the size of a mistle thrush”, RSPB explains on their website. It certainly stands out and is very noticeable with a “a pinkish-brown body, striking black and white wings, a black downcurved bill, and a pinkish-brown crest which it raises when excited”.‌These stunning creatures are not typically known to breed in the UK, but tend to turn up momentarily in springtime as the birds migrate north, from Africa to Europe - and in the process many “overshoot and land on the south coast of England”, reports RSPB.‌Pronounced “hu-pu” the hoopoe bird has been causing excitement across the country as reports of sightings flood in across social media and bird expert websites.Kent Ornithological Society (KOS) shared reports of hoopoe sightings in “highlights of the week” on April 10, writing on their website, “excitingly, the influx of Hoopoes continued”.KOS wrote: “After up to five birds were seen last week, Hoopoes showed up at four further locations this week: North Foreland (on April 4) Bough Beech (April 5), Farringham (April 7) and St Nicolas at Wade (on April 9).‌The hoopoe birds “didn’t stick around for long”, KOS reported, however more of the colourful birds were spotted in many other parts of the country, with one person in Essex seeing their “firs...