A hoopoe's crest is usually folded flat against its head, but when it is excited or alarmed it fans the feathers out into a spectacular mohawk of orange tipped with black and white. The bird uses its long, curved beak to probe the ground for insects, grubs and small lizards, moving its head with a distinctive bobbing motion that gives it a cheerful, bouncy appearance.
In Persian literature, the hoopoe plays a very special role. In a famous 12th-century poem called 'The Conference of the Birds', the hoopoe leads all the birds of the world on a great journey to find wisdom. Because of this story, the hoopoe has been a beloved symbol of leadership and guidance in Persian culture for centuries. You see its image in paintings, on tiles and in embroidery across the country.
Hoopoes are found across a huge range from Europe and Africa to Asia, but the ones that live in Iran are a particular subspecies that has been celebrated in local culture for the longest time. They nest in holes in old walls, tree trunks or even termite mounds, and the male is very devoted - he brings food to the female while she is sitting on the eggs, making short trips back and forth all day long.