Related to the heron and the stork, the hammerhead bird – Scopus umbretta – is sacred to many African peoples. According to tradition, opposing it means provoking a life full of setbacks and catastrophes.
Its nest is striking about this bird, a large hemisphere made of mud and branches which is accessed through a circular entrance. It is so splendid that Africans believe that the pair of hammerheads enslave other animals to lift it. This is why they call it the sultan bird. In fact, they make their nest by themselves for more than six months and then cover it with pieces of glass, bones and pebbles.
