Graham Potter took this picture after spotting the unusual hoopoe bird in a neighbour's garden in Whitwick, nearCoalville.
It is believed that the bird, which is known for its distinctive crown of feathers, may have taken a wrong turn during its spring migration from Africa to central Europe.
Mr Potter, of Tressall Road, Whitwick, took the photo at the weekend.
He said: "It was here for five days but we haven't seen it since Tuesday night.
"We had no end of people coming to take pictures of it."
His wife, Hazel, said: "It was such a marvellous sight. It was feeding on insects in the grass and on crane fly larvae.
"On Tuesday, it landed on the fence near our conservatory and nodded its head towards us as if it was saying goodbye."
Katie Field, conservation officer for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, said: "I suspect this is a young bird that has migrated from Africa and, instead of landing in France or Spain, has got lost and ended up here."
She said there had only been 15 recorded sightings of hoopoes in Leicestershire and Rutland since 1941.
"Hoopoes are found all over the world, including central and eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, and there have been sightings of them in southern England," said Katie.
"The birds migrate in the spring from Africa to Europe so they can breed.
"The hoopoe eats insects found in grassland and there's more food available in Europe this time of the year because Africa is too hot and dry."
The hoopoe, which is about the same size as a thrush, has a pinkish-brown body, striking black and white wings, a long, black, down-curved bill and a pinkish-brown crest which it raises when excited.
An RSPCA spokesman said: "As many as 100 of the birds can turn up in spring as birds migrating north to Europe from Africa overshoot and land on the south coast of England.
"The best chance of seeing one is during the spring migration along the south coast and not far inland, but birds have turned up as far north as Shetland."
The RSPB is asking residents to take part in a summer garden wildlife survey to find out how birds are coping with the dry weather this year.
The conservation charity is concerned about the effect the unusually dry spring has had on wildlife.
To take part, people need to spend an hour between tomorrow and Sunday, June 12, counting the birds and other creatures that visit their garden and recording the highest number of each species seen at any one time.
Seen any rare or unusual wildlife in the UK? Send us an email at wildlifesightings@hotmail.co.uk even if you are unsure of the species.
