Birds have been known to inspire  man since time
   immemorial. They occupy a powerful place in the
   cultures  of many  nations  as  reflected  in their
   arts, mythologies and beliefs.  In addition, birds
   too become  popular symbols of freedom, trans- 
   cendence, wisdom  and hope.  Birds  enchant  man
   with their beauty, their  songs and  their flights.
   They provide nuances to  our music, aphorisms to
   our speech, cadences to  our poetry and wings to
   our  aspirations.  Each  bird  has  its own  allure.
   Hence  wisdom is ascribed to the Hoopoe, vanity
   to the Peacock, intimacy to the owl.

   In  the Malay world, birds  feature  prominently
   in the myths  of its people. The  Hikayat Merong
   Mahawangsa or The Kedah Annals,  for example,
   traces the origins of the  state of Kedah in West
   Malaysia,  to  an  incident involving a  Garuda,  a
   Hindu demi-god, part man and part bird.

   The Malay language is replete with perumpamaan
   (similes) that use the bird anology.

   Bagai itik pulang petang
   (Like the duck that homes in the afternoon)

   Bagai murai tercabut ekor
   (Like the Magpie that lost it's tail)

   In  poetry,   there  is  the  famous  16th century
   poem  called  Syair Burung Pungguk (Poem of the
   Owl) by the Sufi, Hamzah Fansuri.

   Of all  the  birds  in  the world,  none come close
   to the Hud Hud  to  represent the Malay's quest
   for   a   deeper   purpose   to  life.   If  the Owl
   symbolizes spiritual yearning as in "the owl that
   yearns for the moon",  the  Hud Hud  symbolizes
   the "perfected man" and the  Guide.

   The Hud Hud  is an  unusual looking  bird with a 
   long thin curved beak, colourful feathers and a
   long  erectile  crest. The body  is of a beautiful 
   pinkish brown,  and  the  wings  and  tail  are  of
   black and white feathers.
 

  The Hud Hud is probably the only bird that is in
  the unique position of having  been mentioned by
  name in the Quran, Muslim's holy scripture.

  In it we are told of the  Emissary role played by
  the bird in the communications between Solomon 
  and the Queen of Sheba that finally resulted in 
  her submission to the path :

  And he took a muster of the Birds;  and he said: 
  "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among 
  the absentees? I will certainly punish him with a 
  severe penalty,  or execute him,  unless he bring
  me a clear reason (for absence)." 

  But  the  Hoopoe  tarried  not far :  he (came up 
  and) said: "I have   compassed (territory) which 
  thou hast  not  compassed, and  I  have  come to 
  thee   from   Saba  with  tidings    true.  I  found 
  (there) a woman  ruling over them and provided 
  with every requisite; and she has  a magnificent 
  throne. I found her and  her  people prostrating 
  (worshipping) the sun  besides  God:  Satan has
  made their  deeds  seem  pleasing  in  their  eyes, 
  and has kept them away from the Path,-  so they 
  receive no guidance, (Kept them away  from the 
  Path), that they should   not prostrate (worship) 
  God, Who brings to light  what is  hidden in the 
  heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide 
  and what  ye  reveal. God!- there is no  god but 
  He!-  Lord of the Throne Supreme!"

  (Solomon) said : "Soon  shall  we  see  whether
  Thou has  told the truth or lied !  Go Thou with 
  this letter of mine, and deliver it to them ;  then
  draw back  from  them,  and (wait to) see what
  answer they return......."          27 verses 20-28

M Nasir, a popular contemporary Malay singer and composer, popularises the 13th century Persian Sufi tale of the pilgrimage of Birds led by the Hud Hud to meet their legendary King, Simurgh.... through a song entitled  "Ask the Hoopoe" " Music has to have its soul and its own original form. The soul must be strong and the form must be clear. The form must be able to be heard and able to highlight its true, original self..The form must be expressed as required by the soul or spirit..."

73 pintu 73 jalan Yang sampai Hanya satu jalan Beribu margasatwa Mencari raja Si Murag Yang sampai hanya 30 Ooh Sang Algojo Ooh (Hei) nanti dulu Lihat dunia dari mata burung Atau dari dalam tempurung Yang mana satu engkau pilih Dalam kalut ada peraturan Peraturan mencipta kekalutan Dimana pula kamu berdiri Disini Ooh Sang Algojo Ooh nanti dulu Berikan Aku kesempatan akhir ini Untuk menyatakan kalimah sebenarnya Berikan Aku kesempatan akhir ini Ini semua konspirasi (Lai) Tanya sama itu HudHud Lang mengsilang Kui mengsikui Kerna dia yang terbangkan Ku kemari

      . In Pharoanic Egypt, the  Hud Hud is depicted
        in  hieroglyphs as  a symbol  of gratitute. The 
        Egyptians believed that the Hud Hud plucked
        the old  plumage  of their  aged  parents  and 
        cleansed their eyes by licking

      . To  later  North Africans,  the Hud Hud  was 
        known as "the doctor"  by virtue  of curative
        properties of the bird's heart and head

      . The Bible lists the Hud Hud flesh as unpalat-
        able, and in  the same  category  as the crow 
        and vulture

       . In the  Malay  world, the  Hud Hud  flesh is
         believed to be good  for persons  suffering
        from Asthma 

       . Hoopoe breeds in northern Eurasian 
         continent and  winters at  southern parts of 
         the  continent.  However,  it  does  not come 
         down further to Malaysia.  It is recorded as 
         a rare/irregular visitor in  northern parts of 
         the  Peninsular.  Also, it used  to be resident
         in Perlis.

  Bird authorities differ in opinion with 
  regards to the number of species that 
  this bird has. There  is  but  one genus 
  (Upupa). One  opinion put  the species
  to three - that  of   Eurasia (U.epops),
  Africa (U.africana)  and  Madagascar
  (U.marginata) -  the latter distinction
  being due to a distinct  difference  in 
  voice. Here's what  a bird expert  has 
  to say about the behaviour of the Hud 
  Hud :

"Feeds mainly on the ground, walking 
  with   ease   and   even  running  with 
  accompanying   movement   of   head. 
  Fond of feeding  on lawns  and paths 
  or, alternatively, on manure or refuse 
  heaps,   probing   for   larvae.   Crest 
  depressed when  at  rest,  but erected 
  when  excited  or alarmed  and  for a
  moment on settling. Flight is not weak 
  and  uncertain  as  it  appears,  for it 
  will  readily  elude    trained   falcons, 
  mounting  easily   into  the  air  away 
  from them. Perches  in  trees,  as well 
  as   on   buildings,  walls,  etc.,   and 
  according to Lilford will occasionally
  climb  up a  tree  like  a woodpecker,
  but this  is  not  usual.  Fond  of  dust 
  and sand-baths"

  One  day Prophet  Solomon  was riding 
  upon his white eagle  when the sun beat
  became too unbearable that he thought
  he would die. Suddenly  a flock of Hud
  Hud flew by and formed a canopy over 
  Solomon's head  by  joining their wings
  together - wingtip to wingtip.

  In  gratitute for their  kind  deed, the
  Prophet summoned the King of the Hud
  Huds to his presence and granted   him 
  a wish.

  After much consultation with his flock,
  the  King   asked  that  Solomon  grant 
  them  golden  crowns to  wear. True to 
  his  word, Solomon  granted their wish
  but also warned them  of the potential
  danger that  could  befell  them due to 
  spell that the gold's glitter has  on the
  Hunters.

  It  was  not long  before  news spread 
  about Solomon's  gift to the  Hud Hud.
  Hunters, keen to wrest the crowns set
  traps  with mirrors for bait.   Many a 
  Hud Hud, now vain  by their  elevated
  status  were  caught and  killed  when 
  they tried to admire themselves in the 
  mirrors.

  Soon  their numbers became depleted 
  to the  point that the King of the Hud 
  Huds   had  to swallow  his pride  and
  approached Solomon for help.

  The  kind Prophet decided that hence-
  forth  no  birds will wear a crown and 
  to  the  Hud Huds  crests  were  given
  instead. In this way, their beauty will 
  no longer entrap them.

---

-The Hud Hud as Sufi-

  The Birds, who  represent  humanity 
  are invited by the Hud Hud, the Sufi, 
  to  take  on  a  journey  to seek their
  legendary King, Simurgh, who lives in 
  the  mountains   of   Kaf.  The  birds, 
  after the  initial excitement begin to 
  give  excuses  not  to  partake  on the 
  journey. To each  of their complaints, 
  the Hud Hud would reply with a story 
  to emphasize the uselessness of being
  satisfied with what they have  versus 
  what  they  should  have.  Finally  the 
  Hud Hud mentions  that their journey 
  would entail travessing seven valleys. 
  These are the -
  Valley of Quest, where the pilgrim
  must renounce desires;
  Valley of Love, where the Seeker is
  completely consumed by a thirst
  for the beloved;
  Valley of Intuitive Knowledge, where
  the heart receives directly the 
  illumination of Truth;
  Valley of Detachment, where the
  Traveller becomes completely
  detached from desires and 
  dependence;
  Valley of Unification, where the 
  Seeker understands that what seemed
  to him to be different things and
  ideas are in fact, only one;
  Valley of Astonishment, where the
  Traveller experiences both 
  astonishment and love;
  Valley of Death, where the Seeker
  understands the mystery, the
  paradox, of how an individual "drop
  can be merged with the ocean, and
  yet remain meaningful".
  Valley description after Idries Shah.