Photo: Mathias / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Tockus leucomelas
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 188 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Bucerotiformes
- Family Bucerotidae Hornbills
- Genus Tockus
- Species leucomelas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 188 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is a species of bird in the Bucerotidae family, part of the order Bucerotiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 188 g, with a wing length of about 18.9 cm and a tail of around 20.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill?
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is a large bird that weighs around 188 g.
Where does the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill live?
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill belong to?
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill eat?
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill migrate?
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill's range?
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 1.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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