One of the most playful and noisy hornbills of southern and eastern Africa, especially found in forests, riverine woodlands, and dense bush areas. This striking bird is a symbol of life and energy in the forest, often seen flying in small, chattering groups that seem to bring the trees to life with sound.
Trumpeter hornbills are medium-sized compared to some of their larger relatives. Their bodies are sleek and mostly black, with white underparts and a long tail tipped in white. One of their most distinctive features is the large casque — a hollow structure on top of the upper part of the bill — which amplifies their calls and gives them that unmistakable hornbill profile. Both males and females have casques, but the male’s is typically larger and more pronounced.
They are frugivores, meaning their diet is mainly made up of fruit, but they won’t say no to the occasional insect, small reptile, or even a small rodent if the opportunity arises. Their fondness for figs and other soft fruits makes them important seed dispersers, helping to keep forest ecosystems healthy and thriving.
Trumpeter hornbills are highly social! They often move around in small family groups or noisy flocks, chatting, cackling, and squawking loudly as they fly through the forest canopy. Their calls are so distinct that their presence can often be heard before they are seen.
Another quirky behavior: during the breeding season, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using mud, droppings, and fruit pulp, leaving only a small slit through which the male feeds her. She stays sealed in while she lays her eggs and raises the chicks, only breaking free when the young are ready to leave the nest — a unique and fascinating survival strategy found across many hornbill species.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
Burundi
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Eswatini
Kenya
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Tanzania
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 / Frugivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
