Bradfield's hornbill (Lophoceros bradfieldi) is an African hornbill. It is a medium-sized bird, 50–57 cm (20–22 in) in length, characterized by black back and wings and a white belly. 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.
This is an uncommon resident of the mopane woodlands and mixed thorn fields of northeastern Namibia (especially on the Waterberg plateau), northern Botswana, southern Angola and eastern Zimbabwe. They feed on fruits, large insects, nuts and small reptiles.
The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the South African naturalist R. D. Bradfield (1882-1949).
Bradfield's Hornbill (*Lophoceros bradfieldi) is a Southern African woodland bird known for its black & white plumage, red beak (no casque), piping calls, and insect-heavy diet, nesting in tree cavities where the female seals herself in to incubate eggs. They're found in mopane/teak woodlands of Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, usually solitary or in pairs, and are identified by white tail corners in flight and a black eye mask.
Key Characteristics
Appearance: Medium-sized (50-57cm) with a black back, white belly, yellow eyes, and a red bill without a casque. Females have turquoise facial skin.
Distinguishing Marks: White tips on the tail feathers, visible when flying.
Call: A distinctive, loud, rising and falling series of piping notes, often heard in summer.
Habitat: Prefers broad-leaved woodlands, especially those with Mopane, Zambezi Teak (Baikiaea), and Bloodwood (Pterocarpus) on sandy soils.
Diet: Primarily large insects (locusts, beetles, termites) but also eats fruits, nuts, and small vertebrates like lizards.
Behavior & Breeding
Social Structure: Usually seen alone, in pairs, or small family groups.
Nesting: Nests in natural tree cavities; the female seals herself in with mud, leaving a slit for the male to feed her.
Incubation: Female incubates for at least 28 days; she leaves when chicks are a few weeks old.
Fledging: Chicks stay in the nest for about 50 days, becoming independent around 3 months old.
Conservation & Name
Status: Least Concern, though facing threats from habitat loss.
Distribution: Near-endemic to Southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe).
Named After: R.D. Bradfield, a South African naturalist who collected the first specimen.
