Least Concern Birds

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Southern Red-billed Hornbill has a curved red bill and lives in African savannas and farmlands.

Scientific name	Tockus rufirostris
Swahili name	Kilikili mwekundu wa kusini
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Bucerotiformes
Family	Bucerotidae
Size	Male: approximately 160-180 grams; Female: approximately 140-160 grams

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How to identify

Distinctive red curved bill; head and neck white with black spots; back and wings brown with white markings; tail feathers black and white barred; small size, agile movements

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, shrubland, open forests, and edges of farmland

Diet

Omnivorous, primarily feeding on insects, small invertebrates, seeds, and fruits

When it is active

Diurnal, active frequently during the day

Where it lives

Mainly distributed in southern Africa, including Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and northern South Africa; less common in parts of Kenya

How to spot it

Look for them at dawn or dusk along edges of open woodland savanna and shrubland, noting their active foraging behavior and distinctive calls

Photography tips

Use a medium telephoto lens to capture feeding and flight moments, utilizing natural light to highlight the red bill and plumage details

Threats

Habitat destruction and degradation, agricultural expansion, and impacts of human activities

Similar species

Similar to Northern Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus), but the southern species has a shorter, slightly darker bill and slightly different plumage patterns

📖 how to spot the southern red billed hornbill on safari