Hamerkop

Afrikaans name: Hamerkop

Hamerkop portrait

Photo © Steven Herbert

Scopus umbretta

The proper English name for this bird is Hammerhead, or even Hammerhead Stork, but most people know it as the Hamerkop.

It is obvious that the name of the bird is derived from its hammer-shaped head. The part of the 'hammer' at the back of its head is its crest, which comprises of feathers, so it wouldn't make a very useful hammer.

The Hamerkop is quite a noisy bird and you will often hear it before seeing it. Having said that it is also quite capable of sitting quietly at the waters edge for long periods of time.

Male and female have the same plumage.

Photo © Steven Herbert

The nest of the Hamerkop is an amazing structure. It is normally placed in the fork of a tree and can be a 1 to 1.5 metres across. The pair lay up to 7 eggs in a chamber inside the nest. The nest is mainly made of sticks but may include, or be decorated with, coloured pieces of plastic or other man-made material.

Frogs are the main food item but they will also eat fish and insects.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	72	Scopus umbretta bannermani
2nd	72	Scopus umbretta
3rd	72	Scopus umbretta
4th	72	Scopus umbretta
5th	81	Scopus umbretta
6th	81	Scopus umbretta
7th	452	Scopus umbretta

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	72	Hammerhead
2nd	72	Hamerkop
3rd	72	Hamerkop
4th	72	Hamerkop
5th	81	Hamerkop
6th	81	Hamerkop
7th	452	Hamerkop

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	72	Hamerkop
2nd	72	Hamerkop
3rd	72	Hamerkop
4th	72	Hamerkop
5th	81	Hamerkop
6th	81	Hamerkop
7th	452	Hamerkop

References and further reading

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 140

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 29

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 34

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 43

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 74

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 26

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 127

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 131

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 5

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 70

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 68

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 62

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 62

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 45

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 41

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 9

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 180

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 31

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 24

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 80

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 28

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 80

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 408

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 159

go! - Issue 195 - Author: - Published: 2024 - Page: 92

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 60

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 54

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 38

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 42

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 8

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 10

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 22

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 32

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 26

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 5

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 27

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 46

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 55

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 175

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 175

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 40

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds