Photo: Elliot, Daniel Giraud / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
White-thighed Hornbill
Bycanistes albotibialis
White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis) — 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 White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 921 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 albotibialis
Where it lives
Benin and southern Nigeria to western Uganda, central DR Congo and northwestern Angola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 921 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-thighed 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 White-thighed Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis) is a member of the Bucerotidae family, within the order Bucerotiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Benin and s Nigeria to w Uganda, c DR Congo and nw Angola.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 921 g, with a wing length of about 31.5 cm and a tail of around 26.8 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 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-thighed Hornbill?
The White-thighed Hornbill is a very large bird that weighs around 921 g.
Where does the White-thighed Hornbill live?
The White-thighed Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF Benin and s Nigeria to w Uganda, c DR Congo and nw Angola, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-thighed Hornbill belong to?
The White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the White-thighed Hornbill eat?
The White-thighed Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the White-thighed Hornbill migrate?
The White-thighed Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-thighed 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 White-thighed Hornbill make?
1 real field recording of the White-thighed 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 White-thighed Hornbill's range?
The White-thighed Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 2.1 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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