Photo: DipaliLath / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Von der Decken’s Hornbill
Tockus deckeni
Von der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill (Tockus deckeni) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 168 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 deckeni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 168 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Von der Decken’s 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 Von der Decken’s Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill (Tockus deckeni) is a member of the Bucerotidae family, within the order Bucerotiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia and Somalia to c Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 168 g, with a wing length of about 17.8 cm and a tail of around 21 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 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Von der Decken’s Hornbill?
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 168 g.
Where does the Von der Decken’s Hornbill live?
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia and Somalia to c Tanzania, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Von der Decken’s Hornbill belong to?
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill (Tockus deckeni) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Von der Decken’s Hornbill eat?
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Von der Decken’s Hornbill migrate?
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Von der Decken’s 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 Von der Decken’s Hornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Von der Decken’s Hornbill — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Von der Decken’s Hornbill's range?
The Von der Decken’s Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 1.6 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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