Specie's Page                                               South Africa - Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Northern Red-billed Hornbill:

UK Status: Not a resident to the UK, but can be found in zoos, wildlife parks and private collections.  It is found from Mauritania through into Somalia, and in Eastern Tanzania.

Habitat: Found in thorn scrub, and on savannas. They feed on fruit, seeds and small rodents.

Breeding: This bird nests in holes and cavities in trees, the nest is made  by both parents, who modify the hole with a filler made of mud and fruit pulp, to suit it to the purpose. There are three to six white eggs, once incubating the mother is sealed into the nest, leaving an aperture just large enough for the male to feed her through. She will stay put in the nest until sometime after her eggs have hatched. When the nest is to cramped for the female and chicks, the male breaks her out, then they reseal the nest cavity, leaving a space to push food through for the chicks.

Comment: There are five distinct species of Red-billed Hornbill, the Northern is just on of these species found in Africa.