From Opus

Photo by Steve G

Tockus fasciatus

[edit] Identification

54cm

• Mainly black
• White belly and tail tip
• Long curved black and yellow bill
• Medium-sized casque
  

Sexes are similar, but the female has a smaller casque
Immature birds are duller, have a smaller bill, and no casque.

Photo by xentox
Zwedru. Liberia, April 2006

[edit] Distribution

Equatorial Africa:
Western Africa: Senegambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

• T. f. semifasciatus:

• Senegambia to just east of Niger River

• T. f. fasciatus:

• Nigeria (east of Niger River) to Angola, Zaire and Uganda

[edit] Habitat

Forests and scrub.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

The nest is in a tree hole and 4 white eggs are laid. During incubation, the entrance is blocked leaving a small gap to enable the male to pass food through to the female and chicks. Eventually the female breaks out and rebuilds the wall. Both adults then feed the chicks.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes fruit and insects.

[edit] Vocalisation

The call is a whistling pii-pii-pii-pii-.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Avibase
3. Avibase

[edit] External Links