The exotic-looking hoopoe is a rare visitor to the UK, though it nests in warmer climates. After laying its eggs in a tree cavity, the female covers her clutch in a foul-smelling secretion. It’s thought that this protects the eggs against bacteria as well as making them less appealing to predators. Delightful! #WildlifeWednesday #WednesdayWisdom | RSPB

The European hoopoe is a unique bird known for its striking crest that can be raised or lowered and its "hoo-poo" call, which gave the species its name. These birds have a reddish-brown body with black and white striped wings and tail, and they use their long, slender bills to probe the ground for insects. Hoopoes also have some fascinating defensive and nesting behaviors, such as producing a foul-smelling substance to deter predators and laying eggs in cavities where the female incubates them a