A lively and attractive bird native to the coastal forests, riverine woodlands, and savannas of eastern and southern Africa. Ranging from Kenya and Tanzania down to South Africa, this medium-sized hornbill is known for its graceful flight, distinctive red bill, and energetic, chattering calls. Though not as flashy as some larger hornbills, the crowned hornbill is elegant and highly active, adding bright flashes of color and sound to the forests and bushlands it inhabits.
The crowned hornbill has a sleek blackish-brown body with white belly feathers and white-tipped wing feathers that are most visible when it takes flight. Its most striking feature is the curved, reddish-orange bill, which is slightly smaller and slimmer compared to some other hornbill species. True to its name, the crowned hornbill also has a slight casque — a small ridge running along the top of its bill — which gives it a subtly “crowned” appearance. Unlike some of its relatives, the male and female crowned hornbills look quite similar, although males generally have slightly larger bills.
Crowned hornbills are omnivorous and very flexible in their diet. If the opportunity arises, they feed on a mixture of insects, small reptiles, fruits, seeds, and even small birds. During the rainy season, when insects are abundant, they mainly focus on hunting invertebrates like grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. When the dry season comes, they shift to eating more fruits, particularly figs and berries, helping to disperse seeds and maintain forest health.
Crowned hornbills are agile hunters. They can catch insects mid-air with impressive precision or snatch prey off leaves and branches with quick, acrobatic movements. Sometimes, they even hover briefly to pick fruit or insects from awkward angles.
Distribution
Angola
Burundi
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Kenya
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Rwanda
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
