March Hoopoe, merino nylon sock yarn

The hoopoe (Upupa epops) is instantly recognisable with its peachy orange head and body, contrasting black-and-white barred wings and tail, and striking fan of crest feathers tipped in black that it can raise or flatten depending on its mood. They are found from Southern Europe, across much of Africa, and in Asia, preferring open habitats such as savannas, grasslands, and forest edges that provide lightly vegetated ground for feeding and vertical surfaces with cavities such as trees or cliffs for nesting. The hoopoe’s long, slender bill is specialised for probing the soil and leaf litter by inserting the closed bill into the ground and then open it underground, a behaviour known as “gaping,” which exposes hidden insects and larvae. Hoopoes usually forage alone, striding over open ground and pausing to probe with the full length of the bill, sometimes lifting leaves or even small stones to uncover hidden invertebrates. Their flight is broad-winged, rounded, and distinctly undulating, often compared to a giant butterfly because the wings half-close at the end of each beat. Vocalisations are equally distinctive: a soft, resonant “hoop-hoop-hoop” that has given the bird its common name in many languages. They nest in cavities and the female incubates the eggs while the male supplies food. They also have an unusual defence strategy: a secretion that deters predators and parasites from approaching the nest. This is a superwash treated sock weight (fingering, 4ply) yarn spun from 74% merino wool and 25% nylon for enhanced durability. It is suitable for approximately 2-3mm needles. About 420 metres per 100g skein. This yarn is presented as a skein. If you would like it caked then this paid-for service adds 24h to the dispatch time.