Scientific Name:

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Habitat:

Open savanna, woodland and thorn scrub

Range:

Sub-Saharan Africa

Average Size:

Weight: Less than 1 pound

Length: 19 to 24 inches

Description:

The red-billed hornbill has a mainly whitish underbelly and head. It has a long tail and the long, curved red bill for which it is named. The male and female of the species are similar in appearance, but the female has a smaller bill. Although it is a large bird, it is one of the smaller hornbills.

Life Span:

About 15 years

Diet:

Hornbills are omnivorous birds, eating fruit, insects and small animals.

Status in the Wild:

The red-billed hornbill is listed by the World Conservation Union in the category of "least concern."

Behavior:

Red-billed hornbills are mostly ground-dwelling birds; however, they do fly, despite having relatively short wings. They are also experts at digging, a task for which their bills are well adapted. Red-bills can often be seen propping themselves against tree trunks with their long tails as they build and return to their nests.

Red-billed hornbills are usually found in pairs or small family parties, but during the dry season they may congregate in flocks of several hundred at popular feeding areas, such as water holes. They are highly territorial and even defend their territories against their own species. Most peculiarly though, red-billed hornbills do not defend their territory from other hornbill species, and often several species of hornbill will have overlapping territories.

They roost in trees near to the trunk or a large branch. Like all hornbills, except the large ground hornbills of Africa, red-billed hornbills nest in holes in trees. The female is sealed up for two to three months while she incubates the eggs and feeds the young with insects brought back by the male.

Reproduction:

Females usually lay three to six eggs, which they incubate in a tree hole for 23 to 25 days. The nest is closed off with a cementlike substance made of mud, droppings and fruit pulp. A narrow opening allows the male to transfer food to the mother and chicks, sealed inside.

While in the nest with the chicks, the female molts and re-grows her feathers. When the chicks are about 20 days old and are too big to fit in the nest with the mother, the mother breaks out and rebuilds the wall, and then both parents feed the chicks together.

Chicks fly well on first emerging from the nest, and never return to it, although they may remain with their parents for six months.

Amazing facts:

The hornbill is unique, because its first two neck vertebrae are fused to support its large bill!

How You Can Help:

You can help the red-billed hornbill and other species by joining the volunteer team at the Oregon Zoo and getting involved with other conservation groups. Many organizations focus on conservation in Africa, including the African Wildlife Foundation, Tusk Trust, Conserve Africa International, the World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Awareness Foundation and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

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