- Tockus erythrorhynchus
Identification
A small, black-and-white Hornbill.
- Spotted wing-coverts
- Black tail with white in outer tail
- Long, slender red bill with dark patch on lower mandible
- Yellow to pinkish bare skin around eye and on throat
- Brown eyes
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.
Distribution
From Sierra Leone east to Somalia and south to Tanzania.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Was formerly considered included in Red-billed Hornbill.
Habitat
Tree and bush savanna.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on insects but takes also small vertebrates like geckos, nestlings and rodents. Some fruits and grain 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.
References
- 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
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Northern Red-billed Hornbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Northern_Red-billed_Hornbill
