Romfilatelia introduces into circulation a postage stamps issue on Wednesday, March 12th this year, under the Fauna theme, titled Hoopoes. The issue consists of 4 postage stamps, 4 maxicards, for maximaphilia enthusiasts, a philatelic folder with special product in a limited edition and a First Day Cover.
The images of the postage stamps show birds from the order Bucerotiformes, suborder Upupi, of which we have illustrated specimens from the Upupidae family and the Phoeniculidae family, commonly known as hoopoes. Hoopoes are found in dry regions, open plains, orchards and hills, shrub-covered savannas, etc. Hoopoes are predominantly insectivorous birds but also feed on worms, spiders, snails, slugs, and centipedes.
In the Upupidae family, the Upupa genus includes three known hoopoes species, each with distinct geographic distribution: Upupa marginata, endemic to Madagascar (represented on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 5), Upupa africana, native to Africa (featured on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 6,50), Upupa epops, found in Europe and Asia (depicted on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 9). Additionally, the series includes a species from the Phoeniculidae family – the green wood hoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus (illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 25). The design of the First Day Cover features the African hoopoe, Upupa africana.
In Romania, the Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops, commonly known as the hoopoe, is found in lowland and hilly areas, as well as at altitudes of up to 1,300 meters in the Carpathian Mountains and in the floodplain regions of the Danube Delta, where hollow willow trees provide suitable nesting sites. Known as a natural predator of agricultural and forestry pests, the hoopoe is a protected species under national legislation. Most Upupa epops populations are migratory, with birds from Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe travelling to South Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia for the winter.
Measuring approximately 28 centimeters in length, the hoopoe displays a striking plumage with a reddish-brown body, contrasted by black-and-white striped wings and tail. A distinctive crest of large, rusty-red feathers adorns its head, which can be fanned out or folded at will.
It spends a great deal of time on the ground, probing the soil in search of food. In case of danger, it relies on its camouflage colouring, flattening itself against the ground with its wings fully spread, remaining perfectly still. It nests in tree hollows, rock crevices, ruined walls, piles of stones, and similar sheltered spots.
The hoopoe was designated as the national bird of Israel on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the country’s founding.
The philatelic folder is created into a limited run printing of 217 pieces and is equipped with the special philatelic block of four imperforated stamps of the issue. The special philatelic block is numbered from 001 to 217.
Romfilatelia thanks Senior Researcher Luis Ovidiu Popa, Manager of the ‘Grigore Antipa’ National Museum of Natural History, and museographer Alexandru Iftime, Ph.D., for their expert consultancy in the development of this issue postage stamps.
