Monteiro's Hornbill
Tockus monteiri
The Monteiro's Hornbill (Tockus monteiri) is a rare hornbill found in 2 countries, weighing about 290 g. Monteiro's hornbill is a species of hornbill that is native to the dry woodlands of southwestern Africa.










About the Monteiro's Hornbill
Monteiro's hornbill is a species of hornbill that is native to the dry woodlands of southwestern Africa. It is a common, near-endemic species in Namibia, with a total population estimated at 340,000 individuals.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It is a medium-sized bird, 54–58 cm (21–23 in) in length. With a body mass of 210 to 400 g (7.4 to 14.1 oz), it appears to be the largest hornbill of the relatively diminutive Tockus genus. The species is characterized by a white belly, black back, with white spots on the wings and white secondary flight feathers. The outer feathers of the long tail are also white. Females are smaller than males and can be recognized by their turquoise facial skin. The eyes are black and the beak is red.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Monteiro's Hornbill can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Monteiro's Hornbill?
- It is a medium-sized bird, 54–58 cm (21–23 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Monteiro's Hornbill?
- The Monteiro's Hornbill is a medium sized bird weighing about 290 g.
- Where can you see a Monteiro's Hornbill?
- The Monteiro's Hornbill occurs in 2 countries, including Namibia and Angola.
- What birds look similar to a Monteiro's Hornbill?
- The Monteiro's Hornbill is most easily confused with the Damara Red-billed Hornbill, the Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill and the Jackson's Hornbill.
- Is the Monteiro's Hornbill endangered?
- The Monteiro's Hornbill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Monteiro's Hornbill for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.