African Grey Hornbill
Lophoceros nasutus
Also known as: African Gray Hornbill
About This Species
A common hornbill of savanna and open woodland across much of sub-Saharan Africa, easily identified by its long, downcurved grey bill and undulating flight between trees. It feeds on insects, small reptiles and fruit, often seen perched prominently on bare branches or foraging on the ground, and is most active and vocal during the warmer daylight hours.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Keep a respectful distance of several metres, particularly near nest cavities, since hornbills seal the nest entrance with mud during incubation and any disturbance risks the female or chicks being trapped or abandoned.
- Protection status and enforcement vary across its African range, so treat nest trees as especially sensitive and avoid any activity that could disrupt this vulnerable nesting stage.
LCAvesBucerotiformesBucerotidae
Seasonal Activity
175,790 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Family
- Bucerotidae
Photo
(c) BERNARD, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.