Horizocerus granti
The Eastern Dwarf Hornbill (Horizocerus granti) is a diminutive yet striking member of the Bucerotidae family, notable for being among the smallest of all hornbill species, typically measuring between 30-38 cm (12-15 inches) in length and weighing 120-180 grams. Its plumage is predominantly glossy black, contrasting sharply with a white belly and vent, and distinctive white tips on the outer tail feathers. A prominent white superciliary stripe above the eye acts as a key field mark for identi...
This hornbill primarily inhabits dense primary and mature secondary lowland rainforests, often found along rivers and forest edges, typically at elevations up to 1,200 meters.
The diet of the Eastern Dwarf Hornbill is primarily insectivorous, consisting mainly of large insects, spiders, and other arthropods, supplemented by small vertebrates like lizards and geckos, and occasionally some fruits. They forage by gleaning prey directly from vegetation.
Eastern Dwarf Hornbills are diurnal birds, actively foraging throughout the day from the canopy down to the sub-canopy layers of the forest. They employ a gleaning foraging strategy, meticulously searching foliage and branches for insects and small prey, often hanging upside down to reach difficu...
The Eastern Dwarf Hornbill is endemic to the dense rainforests of West-Central Africa. Its core breeding and resident range extends from southern Cameroon, through Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko island), Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo, eastward into the Democratic Republic of the Congo,...
Least Concern
- The Eastern Dwarf Hornbill is one of the smallest hornbill species in the world, often weighing less than 200 grams. - During nesting, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using a mixture of mud, feces, and food, relying entirely on the male to feed her and the chicks through a narrow ...