Photo: Maans Booysen, Birding Weto / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Scimitarbill
Rhinopomastus aterrimus
Black Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus aterrimus) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
The Black Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus aterrimus) is a member of the Phoeniculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 27.1 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 Phoeniculidae Wood Hoopoes
- Genus Rhinopomastus
- Species aterrimus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 27.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Phoeniculidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Scimitarbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Scimitarbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus aterrimus) belongs to the Phoeniculidae family of the order Bucerotiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, c, w, sw.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 27.1 g, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 11.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 7.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Scimitarbill?
The Black Scimitarbill is a small bird that weighs around 27.1 g.
Where does the Black Scimitarbill live?
The Black Scimitarbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, c, w, sw, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black Scimitarbill belong to?
The Black Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus aterrimus) belongs to the Phoeniculidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Black Scimitarbill eat?
The Black Scimitarbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black Scimitarbill migrate?
The Black Scimitarbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Scimitarbill 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 Black Scimitarbill make?
1 real field recording of the Black Scimitarbill — 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 Black Scimitarbill's range?
The Black Scimitarbill has a mapped global range of about 7.8 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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