From Opus

Photo by kitefarrago
Waterberg, Namibia, July, 2011

Tockus damarensis

[edit] Identification

A small, black-and-white Hornbill.

• White head to breast
• Spotted wing-coverts
• Black tail with white in outer tail
• Long, slender red bill with dark patch on lower mandible
• Dark fleshy facial skin and dark eye

Females are smaller and have only a small dark patch on the lower mandible.
Juveniles are similar to males but have a shorter and pale orange bill.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to central Namibia (southern Damaraland)

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
Was formerly considered included in Red-billed Hornbill.

[edit] Habitat

Tree and bush savanna.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds mainly on insects but takes also small vertebrates like geckos, nestlings and rodents. Some fruits eaten, too.
Feeds mainly on the ground.
Breeding season from March to November. Nest in a natural cavity or in an old barbet or woodpecker hole. The female seals the entrance with its own droppings and food remains. There is one narrow entrance through which the male passes food to the mother and chicks. Lays 2 - 7 eggs.
Often takes over nest of other hornbill species.
Undertakes food-related local movements.

[edit] References

1. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334306
2. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist

• List of references

[edit] External Links