Bradfield's hornbill is an African hornbill. It is a medium-sized bird, 50–57 cm (20–22 in) in length, characterized by black back and wings and a white belly. The tip feathers of the long tail are white. Females are smaller than males and can be recognized by turquoise facial skin. The eyes are yellow and the beak is red. The beak is long and presents no casque.
Region
Southern Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily in dry broadleaf and riparian woodlands of northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana (including the Okavango–Chobe system), and western Zimbabwe. It favors mopane (Colophospermum mopane), teak (Baikiaea plurijuga), and mixed woodland with large mature trees for nesting. The species uses riverine belts and adjacent savanna but avoids dense rainforest and extremely open desert. It relies on old trees with natural cavities for breeding and forages from the mid-canopy to the ground. Human-altered mosaics with retained large trees can still support local populations if cavities and fruiting trees remain.
Altitude Range
200–1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Bradfield's hornbill is a medium-sized African hornbill with a long red bill lacking a casque. Females show distinctive turquoise facial skin and are smaller than males. Like other hornbills, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity during nesting, leaving a narrow slit through which the male passes food. They play an important ecological role as seed dispersers and insect predators in dry woodland ecosystems.
Temperament
shy and wary
Flight Pattern
strong flier with heavy wingbeats and short glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family parties, sometimes joining loose mixed flocks while feeding. Monogamous pairs nest in natural tree cavities; the female seals the entrance with mud and droppings, leaving a narrow slit. The male provisions the incubating female and later the chicks through the slit. After fledging, family groups may remain together for some time.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include a series of nasal clucks and yelping notes, often given in accelerating sequences. Calls carry through woodland and are used for pair contact and territory advertisement.
Plumage
Glossy black upperparts and wings with a contrasting white belly and vent; long tail with white tips.
Diet
Eats a mix of large insects (such as beetles, termites, and grasshoppers), small vertebrates when available, and a variety of fruits including figs. Will glean prey from foliage and bark, sally to catch insects, and pick fallen fruit from the ground. Seasonal availability of fruit and insects influences diet composition.
Preferred Environment
Forages in mid- to upper-canopy of woodland and along riverine edges, descending to the ground in open patches. Often works along woodland margins, clearings, and tracks where insect prey is abundant.
