Crowned hornbill


The crowned hornbill is an African hornbill.

Description

It is a medium-sized bird, in length, and is characterized by its white belly and black back and wings. The tips of the long tail feathers are white. The eyes are yellow; the beak is red and presents a stocky :wikt:casque|casque on the upper mandible. In females, the casque is smaller. The crowned hornbill can be distinguished from the similar Bradfield's hornbill by its shorter beak.

Habitat

The crowned hornbill is a common resident of the coastal and riverine forests of southern to northeastern Africa.

Diet

It forages mainly in trees, where it feeds on insects, small rodents, small reptiles, seeds and fruits. This hornbill species can be seen in flocks, usually in the dry season. Four to five white eggs are incubated for 25 to 30 days; the juveniles remain with both parents for about 8 weeks.