TRIBAL AFRICAN ART BIRD HEAD DECOY HEADDRESS. Northern Nigeria. The Hausa, along with several neighboring peoples, use hunting decoys in the form of a large bird head and curving neck, which broadens at the base into a cap-like form that can be fitted to the hunter's forehead and held in place with straps of leather or fabric. The decoy, "burtu," projects above the hunter's body as he bends over, stalking prey in the tall grass or scrub of the Savannah areas in which these peoples live. The bird of choice for such a decoy is a large hornbill that is essentially a ground-dweller. If the hunter makes any noise, prey animals, seeing the head and neck of the hornbill, credit it to the harmless hornbill, thus allowing the hunter to get close to his prey for a good bow shot. 41cm x 23cm