Von der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni) is a hornbill. Hornbills are a family of tropical near-passerine birds found in East Africa, especially to the east of the Rift Valley, from Ethiopia south to Tanzania. It is mainly found in thorn scrub and similar arid habitats. It often includes Jackson's Hornbill as a subspecies. It was named after the German explorer Baron Karl Klaus von der Decken (1833-1865).

Description

This species is a small hornbill which has mainly whitish underparts and head and blackish upperparts. It has a long tail and a long curved bill which lacks a casque. It is similar to the Red-billed Hornbill except for the bill colour, and the lack of spotting on the wing coverts in both male and female.

The species shows sexual dimorphism; the female has a black bill, whereas the male has a red bill with a cream tip and a black cutting edge.

Female Male

Breeding

During incubation, the female lays two or three white eggs in a tree hole, which is blocked off with a cement made of mud, droppings and fruit pulp. There is only one narrow aperture, just big enough for the male to transfer food to the mother and the chicks.

When the chicks and the female are too big to fit in the nest, the mother breaks out and rebuilds the wall, then both parents feed the chicks.

Captive breeding can be acheveied by providing a small barrel or hollow tree with an entrance hole that is 5 inches tall and 3 inches wide. The birds will mud the hole shut once the hen is ready.

Food and feeding Male with a large insect, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Von der Decken's Hornbill is omnivorous, taking insects, fruit and seeds. It feeds mainly on the ground and will form flocks outside the breeding season. In captivity the Von Der Decken Hornbill will eat the following readily; papaya, cantalope, blueberries, bananas, and apples. also live food such as crickets and mealworms should be offered daily. small pinky and fuzzy mice are readily taken but should only be offered 2 to 3 times per week.