Lophoceros bradfieldi
The Bradfield's Hornbill (Lophoceros bradfieldi) is a striking medium-sized hornbill, typically measuring between 50 and 57 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly blackish-brown, contrasting sharply with a white belly and outer tail feathers, especially noticeable in flight. The most distinctive field mark is its large, robust bill: in males, it displays a vibrant red at the base fading to yellow at the tip, while females have a duller, smaller bill, often brownish-yellow. It belongs to t...
Exclusively found in dry, broad-leaved deciduous woodlands, particularly Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) and Burkea africana savannas, primarily within the Kalahari sandveld biome. It prefers areas with large trees for nesting and roosting, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of arthropods including beetles, grasshoppers, termites, and larvae, supplemented by fruits (especially figs and Grewia berries) and seeds. Foraging primarily involves gleaning from branches and foliage, with some aerial hawking to catch flying i...
Bradfield's Hornbills are diurnal, spending their days foraging actively from dawn to dusk, often roosting communally in large trees at night. Their foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and fruits from foliage and branches, often making short aerial sallies to catch flying prey. During the...
The Bradfield's Hornbill is largely sedentary and its distribution is restricted to the central southern African region. Its primary range encompasses northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, southwestern Angola, western Zimbabwe, and a small population in the extreme northern Limpopo Province of...
Least Concern
- The Bradfield's Hornbill is one of the few hornbill species almost entirely endemic to the dry Kalahari sandveld and associated woodlands of Southern Africa. - The female Bradfield's Hornbill seals herself inside the nest cavity with a mud wall, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male...