Least Concern Birds

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Trumpeter Hornbill, an omnivorous bird in African forests and savannas.

Scientific name	Bycanistes bucinator
Swahili name	Kasuku Kenge
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Bucerotiformes
Family	Bucerotidae
Size	Male: approximately 1.2-1.3 kg, body length about 60-65 cm; female: slightly smaller and lighter

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How to identify

Large-bodied bird, white head and neck, black back and wings; prominent large yellow casque-shaped bill with black markings at the base; bare blue skin around the eyes; tail feathers white with black transverse bars

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical forests, wooded savannas, shrublands, and valley areas

Diet

Omnivorous, mainly feeding on fruits, seeds, insects, small reptiles, and bird eggs

When it is active

Diurnal, active frequently during the day

Where it lives

Distributed in eastern and southern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe; commonly found in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve

How to spot it

Observe at dawn or dusk at forest edges or open areas, locate by its loud calls; use binoculars to observe the casque-shaped bill and plumage features

Photography tips

Use natural light for photography, focusing on its distinctive casque-shaped bill and striking black-and-white plumage contrast; photograph in the canopy or open areas during feeding and flight

Threats

Habitat destruction and deforestation; hunting pressure in localized areas

Similar species

Similar to the Red-billed Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator), which has a redder bill and slightly different body coloration; distinguished from other hornbills mainly by bill color and plumage distribution

📖 how to spot the trumpeter hornbill on safari