Hoopoe - friend or foe?

[Luminos]

One for the ex-pats or ornithologists.

A hoopoe was beside my hive this morning, flew off as I approached.
Do hoopoes predate on honeybees - I know they're insect eaters...

 

[Hivemaker.]

Never heard of them being a problem,nor had any problems with them here.

 

[johna]

Very rare visitor to the U.K.-only ever seen one in a big garden in Royal Leamington Spa about 30 years ago.

 

[victor meldrew]

I've seen plenty
Oh!, that was back in the fifties in Libya
Never seen one here though
VM

 

[SER]

There is rarely a year that we don't get a lost one showing up in this part of South Devon. I've seen one twice, several years apart but both in our yard.

 

[Luminos]

I've seen plenty
Oh!, that was back in the fifties in Libya
Never seen one here though
VM

They definitely won't be troubling your bees, then!

 

[victor meldrew]

They definitely won't be troubling your bees, then!

With the problems there , could well see them claiming refugee status
VM

 

[MrB]

Never heard of them being a problem,nor had any problems with them here.

Iv'e never heard of them! what are they?

 

[MrB]

Ah Ha!
Thanks google!

 

[Luminos]

With the problems there , could well see them claiming refugee status
VM

That'll be Refubee status, then

 

[Chris Luck]

No they aren't a problem for bees even though they eat insects and larvae. In fact I can't think of anything other than Asian Hornets which are an issue here, and even with them the picture is far from clear yet.

Chris

 

[greatbritishhoney]

Yep - no problem with bees as far as I know.
My father in law keeps bees in France and often has Hoopoes around but they never show any interest in the hives.

 

[Chris58]

we have a few around here in a neighbours garden - they haven't gone for our bees nor have we heard about problems from anywhere else around here. Woodpeckers yes. But Hoopoes are lovely to look at