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Photo: derivative work: Snowmanradio (talk) Tropicranus_albocristatus_-Central_Park_Zoo-6a.jpg: Claire H. / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Western Long-tailed Hornbill

Horizocerus albocristatus

Western Long-tailed Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 289 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Bucerotiformes
  3. Family Bucerotidae Hornbills
  4. Genus Horizocerus
  5. Species albocristatus

Where it lives

Guinea to Benin

Quick facts

Weight
289 g
Family
Bucerotidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus) belongs to the Bucerotidae family of the order Bucerotiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Guinea to Benin.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 289 g, with a wing length of about 23.1 cm and a tail of around 39.9 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 480,000 km².

Songs & calls

Western Long-tailed Hornbill — Call

Recorded by Alain Verneau Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Western Long-tailed Hornbill?

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill is a large bird that weighs around 289 g.

Where does the Western Long-tailed Hornbill live?

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF Guinea to Benin, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Western Long-tailed Hornbill belong to?

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.

What does the Western Long-tailed Hornbill eat?

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Western Long-tailed Hornbill migrate?

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Western Long-tailed 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 Western Long-tailed Hornbill make?

1 real field recording of the Western Long-tailed 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 Western Long-tailed Hornbill's range?

The Western Long-tailed Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 480,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

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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