Photo: Dotun55 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Piping Hornbill
Bycanistes fistulator
Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 508 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 Bycanistes
- Species fistulator
Quick facts
- Weight
- 508 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Piping Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Piping Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator) is a member of the Bucerotidae family, within the order Bucerotiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 508 g, with a wing length of about 24.3 cm and a tail of around 19 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 811,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Piping Hornbill?
The Piping Hornbill is a large bird that weighs around 508 g.
Where does the Piping Hornbill live?
The Piping Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Piping Hornbill belong to?
The Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Piping Hornbill eat?
The Piping Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Piping Hornbill migrate?
The Piping Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Piping 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 Piping Hornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Piping Hornbill can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Piping Hornbill's range?
The Piping Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 811,000 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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