Hammerkop

Zulu name:  i-Tekwane             Xhosa name:  Uthekwane

The Hammerkop is a dusky brown water bird about the size of a cattle egret - about 20 inches long - and has a superficial resemblance to both herons and storks but is neither.  It is a distinct species in a separate family.  It has a thick square crest, hence the origin of its name.  Hammerkop means hammerhead in Dutch.  It has black legs and a black bill tipped with hook.  Its short tail and large wings enable it to soar and glide easily and vocalizes with a series of shrill piping whistles.  When several birds are communicating, the noise is loud and distracting.

It is from Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and Yemen near inland waters, especially slowly-running streams, lake margins and marshes.  It is a sedentary species, usually seen in pairs.  It is thought to have supernatural powers by indigenous people.   They feed largely on frogs and tadpoles and fish, insects and crustaceans are also taken.  It builds an enormous nest near water and can house several generations of Hammerkops and other   animals as well.  Weaver birds often build their nests under the shelter of the hammerkops huge structure.

The female lays 3-7 whitish eggs and both parents help with incubation and care of the young.  Incubation takes about 30 days and the young make their first flight when they are 7 weeks old but often return nightly for a month or more to roost in the nest.  They are viewed by many African tribes people with superstitious awe and will go so far as to remove their huts if a hammerkop is seen to fly directly overhead.