LEAST CONCERN
VON DER DECKEN'S HORNBILL
TOCKUS DECKENI
Von der Decken's Hornbills live in eastern Africa, prefering dry, arid conditions, including scrublands, savannas and open bush habitats. This species is sexually dimorphic - Males have large, red bills while females have black bills. Hornbills are known for their unique breeding habits. Female Von der Decken hornbills bury themselves alive to hatch and rear their chicks. For two months, the male feeds the female and the chicks through a slit in the mud nest.
HABITAT
Von der Decken's hornbills are found in dry savannas, arid bushlands, and acacia-thorn scrublands of East Africa, often found in areas with scattered trees.
DIET
Von der Decken's hornbills are omnivores. They forage on the ground, feeding primarily on insects, small reptiles, fruits, and seeds. Their diet includes grasshoppers, beetles, termites, snails, lizards, and small rodents.
BEHAVIOUR
Von der Decken's hornbills and dwarf mongooses in East Africa share a remarkable mutualistic relationship.
The hornbills act as aerial sentinels, warning the ground-foraging mongooses of predators, while the mongooses stir up insects for the hornbills to eat. This partnership enhances foraging efficiency and safety for both species.
THREATS
Von der Decken's hornbills are Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Although classified as Least Concern, they are threatened by habitat destruction and human encroachment, in particular the loss of large trees for nesting.