African red-billed hornbill

Red-billed hornbills inhabit open savannas, woodlands, and thorny scrublands throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are omnivorous birds with a varied diet that includes fruit, insects, and small animals.

Hornbills get their name from their distinctive bills, whose shape reminded early observers of the horns of cattle. Their first two neck vertebrae are fused together, providing additional support for their relatively large bills. The African red-billed hornbill is also represented by Zazu, the memorable character from the animated movie The Lion King.

Hornbill Behavior and Facts

The red-billed hornbill is among the smaller members of the hornbill family. It has a mostly pale or whitish head and underparts, along with a long tail and a prominent, curved red bill. Males and females have a similar appearance, although the female generally has a smaller bill.

The long, curved bill is specially adapted for digging and searching for food.

Red-billed hornbills spend much of their time on the ground. At night, they typically roost in trees close to the trunk or settle on large branches. Although their wings are relatively short, they are still capable of flying.

These hornbills are generally seen in pairs or small family groups. During the dry season, however, they may gather in much larger numbers, with flocks of several hundred individuals sometimes concentrating around important feeding locations such as water holes.

Red-billed hornbills are territorial and may protect their areas from other members of their own species. They generally do not defend their territories against other hornbill species, however, which allows several different hornbill species to occupy overlapping areas.

From Birth to Death

Female red-billed hornbills typically produce between three and six eggs, laying them inside a cavity in a tree. After entering the cavity, the female seals the entrance using a cement-like mixture made from mud, droppings, and fruit pulp.

Only a small opening is left in the sealed wall. Through this narrow gap, the male can pass food to the female and later deliver food to both the female and the chicks while they remain inside the cavity.

The incubation period lasts approximately 23 to 25 days.

While confined inside the nest with her young, the female undergoes a complete molt.

When the chicks reach around 20 days of age, the female breaks through the sealed entrance. She then reconstructs the wall in a way that enlarges the nesting space, after which both parents take part in feeding the young.

The chicks are already capable of flying well when they leave the nest and do not return to it afterward. They may nevertheless continue living with and relying on their parents for as long as six months.

Red-billed hornbills can live for approximately 15 years.

Vital Statistics

Adult red-billed hornbills measure around 19 to 24 inches in length.

They weigh less than one pound.

Conservation Status

The red-billed hornbill has a broad distribution across Africa and is currently classified as “Least Concern” by the World Conservation Union.

Hornbills, the Oregon Zoo and You

At the Oregon Zoo, African red-billed hornbills are housed in the Howard Vollum Aviary.

Their zoo diet includes small portions of fruit and leafy vegetables, along with a specially formulated dry pellet made from fruit-based ingredients. They are also provided with a selection of insects and other animal foods, including small and large mealworms, wax worms, crickets, and small mice.