Tockus is a genus of the Bucerotidae Family (hornbills). species included in the genus are:
Tockus monteiri – Medium sized bird, with length between 54 to 58 cm, characterized by white belly, black back, with white spots on the wings and secondary flight feathers coloured white. The outer feathers of the long tail are also white. Females are smaller than males and can be recognized by turquoise facial skin. The eyes are black and the beak is red. Unlike other members of the family, which are omnivorous, the Monteiro's hornbill feeds exclusively on insects and other small arthropods. Its habitat is the savannah and dry thorn fields of NW Namibia. In springtime, Monteiro's hornbills migrate to the southern Windhoek region for nesting. Due to the arid environment, drinking is not a vital necessity for this species. They breed in the end of good rainy season, laying 3 to 5 white-greyish eggs, hatched for about 45 days. The nest is built in rocky faces or trees. The Monteiro's hornbill is a common endemic species of Namibia, with total population estimated on 340,000 individuals.
Tockus bradfieldi – Medium sized bird, with length between 50 to 57 cm, characterized by white belly, black back and wings. 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. Uncommon resident of the mopane woodlands and mixed thorn fields of north eastern Namibia (especially in the Waterberg plateau), north Botswana, southern Angola and east Zimbabwe. They feed on fruits, large insects, nuts and small reptiles.
Tockus alboterminatus – Medium sized bird, with length between 50 to 54 cm, characterized by white belly, black back and wings. The tip feathers of the long tail are white. The Crowned hornbill can be distinguished from the Bradfield's hornbill by the shorter beak, which presents a stocky casque on the upper mandible. In females, the casque is smaller. The eyes are yellow and the beak is red. Common resident of the coastal and riverine forests southern (only eastern coast) to north eastern Africa Africa. They forage mainly in trees, where it feeds in insects (often caught on flight), small rodents and frogs, seeds and fruits. This hornbill species can be seen in flocks, usually in the dry season (Summer). 4 to 5 white eggs are incubated for 25-30 days; juveniles remain with both parents for about 8 weeks.
Tockus nasutus – Medium sized bird, with length between 43 to 48 cm, characterized by white belly, black back and wings. The tip feathers of the long tail are white and the neck and facial skin is grey. The Grey hornbill presents characteristic white stripes in the head and in the back; this one is visible only in flight. The beak is black and casqued and has a creamy horizontal stripe. In females, the beak is shorter, lacks the creamy stripe and presents an orange tip. Juvenile birds tend to be browner than adults. The Grey hornbill is a common, widespread resident of the savannah, dry thorn fields and leafed woodland of southern Africa. Their distribution occupies all Africa south of the Sahara and southern Arabia. They forage in trees, where it feeds in insects (often caught on flight), small rodents and frogs, seeds and fruits. They breed after the rainy season and clutch 3 to 5 white eggs, incubated for 24 to 26 days.Bradfield's hornbill
Crowned hornbill
Grey hornbill
Tockus erythrorhyncus – Medium sized bird, with length between 42 to 50 cm, characterized by a long and thin red beak. The plumage coloration is very similar to the Southern yellowbilled hornbill. They can be distinguished by the smaller size, beak coloration and absence of red facial skin. They also present a broad white stripe in the back, visible in flight. A black coloured patch in the base of the lower mandible can distinguish male from female individuals. They feed mainly on the ground, where they dig soft soils and dung for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. Females lay 3 to 5 eggs in their nest cavities and incubate them for about 25 days. Juveniles take circa 60 days to mature. This hornbill is a common, widespread resident of the dry mopane woodland and savannahs of southern Africa. Frequently they can be sighted along roads.
