The Eurasian Hoopoe is one of my favorite birds. It is one of the interesting birds to see but you might not want to get too close as it is also the skunk of the bird world. The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology has an interesting article on the Eurasian Hoopoe.
Animals use different kinds of defense mechanisms to ward off predators. One of them is producing a foul odor that makes them unpalatable. In mammals, we all are familiar with the skunk and its stinky odor. In the avian world, there are several species that use bad smells as a defense mechanism not only against predators, but also against ectoparasites that eat and degrade bird feathers.
Read more at In the avian world, there are several species that use
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