Red-billed Hornbill

Habitat

The Red-billed Hornbill is an African bird that mainly occurs in savannas and semi-deserts. However, this bird of the hornbill genus is also native to mopane forests and thornbush savannas.

Appearance

It is slightly smaller than other hornbill species. The female's long, red, curved beak is slightly smaller than the male's and also lacks a casque. The underside of the plumage is white, as with other hornbill species. On its black-brown upper body, the Red-billed Hornbill has a white stripe at about shoulder height. The multicolored bird has gray-brown wings with white spots. Since the gular pouch, just like the eye rings, is featherless, the same red as around its eyes is visible.

Diet

The Red-billed Hornbill likes to live in larger groups. Even when searching for food, it is rarely alone. This omnivore prefers seeds, fruits, and insects, which it usually finds on the ground. During the dry season, Red-billed Hornbills gather in large groups around watering holes. As is typical for many other birds, it lives monogamously with its female. Although it is not yet considered an endangered bird, it now only occurs in a few regions.