Can anyone identify this bird?

[peregrina2000]

On three different occasions over the last few days I have seen a very pretty bird. It has a brown body and (I think) a little tuft or “crown” like a peacock. Its wings and tail are black and white striped. Its tail fans out in a v-shape from its body. Does this ring any bells?

Thanks, buen camino,Laurie.

 

[Bradypus]

Is it a pinkish-brown? Could it be a hoopoe?

 

[VNwalking]

Your description sounds like a Hoopoe.
Distantly related to kingfishers, and an ornithologist's favorite in large part because of nomenclature.
It's really hard to beat a name like Upupa epops.

 

[Oppis]

We also met them as a big population on surrounding of a pigfarm on stage before Monterrubio. Very fancy birds.

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks so much -THAT’S IT!! Yes indeed it is a very fancy bird. It just seemed so out of place and exotic. I’d never seen one on the camino before— does it live all over Spain?

 

[Bradypus]

I’d never seen one on the camino before— does it live all over Spain?

Yes. Though the numbers may be greater in the south. It is an occasional visitor as far north as the UK though I have only ever seen one here.

 

[VNwalking]

I’d never seen one on the camino before— does it live all over Spain?

Yes, but more commonly in the south. They are all over Asia and the mid-east - and are the national bird of Israel. There is a fascinating amount of mythology about them that goes way back.
Edit - Haha...once again, @Bradypus beat me to it. I saw one on the Frances once, and have been digging in my photos to find it but can't. It was in Navarre someplace, I think Muruzabel.

 

[Daisyray2018]

Yes, but more commonly in the south. They are all over Asia and the mid-east - and are the national bird of Israel. There is a fascinating amount of mythology about them that goes way back.
Edit - Haha...once again, @Bradypus beat me to it. I saw one on the Frances once, and have been digging in my photos to find it but can't. It was in Navarre someplace, I think Muruzabel.

And they're very at home here in South Africa.

 

[Stroller]

I've seen them in the Charante.

 

[Carolynm]

Is it a pinkish-brown? Could it be a hoopoe?View attachment 42077View attachment 42079

Yes you are so lucky!!