Chongaraba ( Sangairaba)
- Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops) -

By:- R.K. Birjit Singh *

The Hoopoe (Upupa epops), "Sangairaba", better known as "Chongaraba" in Manipuri is a beautiful bird notable for its distinctive fan shape 'crown' of feathers. A colourful bird about 11 inches in length with slender black-beak, wings striped with broad bands of black and white, light russet breast and fan- like crest.

The Hoopoe is widespread in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is both resident and migratory species distributed throughout India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Shri Lanka. It belongs to the family of Upupidae.

A close relationship between the Hoopoe and the wood hoopoes is also supported by the shared and unique nature of their stapes. Hoopoe is a national bird of Israel and state of bird of Punjab. Hoopoe is great friend of farmers as most of their insect diet are considered as pest. The species is associated with a number of mythological, myth and belief in many parts of the world. Its majestic air and flamboyant plumage has assured it a prominent place in folklore.

Chongaraba ( Sangairaba)
Photo: R.K. Birjit Singh

In the legendary folktale of Manipur, once, the royal brothers Yoimongba and Taothingmang organized a programme for cleaning and darning of the systems of rivers and networks of streams of Manipur valley where all the bird species participated with the cleaning work except "Crow Pheasant" (Nongoubi) under his master command of Hoopoe (Chongaraba).

As a penalty for negligence in the social work of the land " Nongoubi" (Crow Pheasant) was not allowed to drink water from rivers, lakes etc. by the royal brothers from the day. Still, it is belief following the legendary folktale of Manipur that Nongoubi drinks only rain water to quench its thirst that is why the name " Nongoubi".

It was regarded as sacred bird in ancient Egypt while Persian poetic imagery credits the species with such gentle qualities as filial devotion and virtuousness. In contrast, the Scandanavians belief that Hoopoe is a harbinger of war and the European cast in the role of a thief. The ancient Romans elevated the bird to the position of patron Saint of Manuring. On world-wide basis the hoopoe had an ambivalent character, at times good, at times consummately evil.

Habitat:

It habitats in open country, plains and hills up to 2000 m elevation. It has two basic requirements in its habitat; bare or lightly vegetated ground on which to forage and vertical surfaces .These requirements can be provided in a wide range of ecosystems and as a consequence they inhabit a wide range of habitats.

It has fond of gardens and groves in around the villages and towns. Birds have been seen at high altitudes during migration across the Himalayas and were recorded at about 6400 m by the first Mount Everest Expedition.

Food:

The species is entirely insectivorous. It is a solitary forager which typically feeds on the ground. They depend on underground grubs and pupae of beetles, crickets, earwigs, locusts and grasshoppers. Sometimes the species also feed on plant matter such as seeds and berries. Larger prey items are beaten against the ground or a preferred stone in order to kill them and remove indigestible body parts such as wings and legs.

Call:

Soft and mellow deeply penetrating musical song, hoo-po-hoo-po-po or hud-hud. Intermittently for 10 – 15 minutes at a stretch during breeding season. The call is very similar to that Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturates and sometimes confusing where both species occur. A subdued harsh ca-caw calls when fighting.

Breeding:

The Hoopoe is a monogamous species, although the pair bond apparently only lasts for a single season. Breeding season starts from late March to June principally April and May. This is a territorial species and the male calling frequently to advertise his ownership of the territory.

Chases and fights between rival males are common and can be brutal. Birds will try to stab rivals with their bills, and individuals are occasionally blinded in fights. During incubation the species releases a foul evil- smell to drive out predators. Egg- 5 to 7, pal skim-milk blue turning into pale dirty greenish

Antonio M. e tal (Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 June; 72(6): 4245–4249) (American Society for Microbiology) had isolated and reported the presence of Enterococcus faecalis , from the uropygial gland (preen gland) situated at the base of the tail, a bacterium that produces antibacterial substances that are active against all gram-positive bacteria assayed and also against some gram-negative strains defending the bird against predators and parasites.

This special secretion has been interpreted as acting mainly as a repellent to predators and has the antimycotic and antibacterial properties. But this kind of properties has been also reported in other species like the red-billed wood hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus). Enterococci are facultative anaerobic, gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci belonging to the lactic-acid bacteria group.

The main habitat of enterococci is the intestines of warm-blooded animals but because of their ability to survive heat treatment and adverse environmental conditions, they can be found in many foods of animal origin, such as milk, cheese, and fermented sausages.

In Manipur the species is hunted for its organs and flesh for using as medicine for the removal of Gall-stone (stone inside Gall bladder), for the treatment of liver, kidney etc. But this kind of mere antimycotic and antibacterial properties should not be treated as panacea for all kind of diseases. We have already better and effective medicine for treatment such kind of health ailments.

The traditional folktales are fast being forgotten and too often the young, especially the new generation, have never heard about hoopoe (Chongaraba) and the convivial relationship with this beautiful bird. They are our chief allies in fighting pests and insects invading in our croplands and fields. It is well, therefore, to protect and conserve before they disappear remembering that extinction is forever.