6-4-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - BRADFIELD'S HORNBILL (Lophoceros bradfieldi)

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. 

28-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - BRADFIELD'S HORNBILL (Lophoceros bradfieldi)

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).

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - BRADFIELD'S HORNBILL (Lophoceros bradfieldi)

The Bradfield's hornbill, known scientifically as Lophoceros bradfieldi, is a medium-sized bird, with a length ranging from 50 to 57 centimeters. It boasts a striking plumage with a black back and wings, contrasted by a pristine white belly. The elongated tail is adorned with white tip feathers, adding to its distinctive appearance.

Males of the species can be identified by their larger size and vivid red beak, which is long and lacks a casque. Females are slightly smaller and can be distinguished by their turquoise facial skin. Both sexes have yellow eyes, which peer out from their striking faces.

Bradfield's hornbill is an inhabitant of the mopane woodlands and mixed thorn fields, where it finds both shelter and sustenance.

This hornbill is an uncommon resident in the northeastern regions of Namibia, particularly on the Waterberg plateau, extending its range to northern Botswana, southern Angola, and eastern Zimbabwe.

The Bradfield's hornbill is known for its resourceful foraging habits, as it searches for food both in trees and on the ground.

Its diet is quite varied, consisting of fruits, large insects, nuts, and small reptiles, which it skillfully procures from its environment.

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Bradfield's hornbill as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face immediate threats of extinction.

The common name and Latin binomial of this hornbill pay homage to the South African naturalist R. D. Bradfield, a testament to his contributions to the natural sciences.

7-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BRADFIELD'S HORNBILL (Lophoceros bradfieldi)

Bradfield's hornbills are African birds found in southern Africa's woodlands, characterized by a black back, white belly, and an orange beak. They are medium-sized, live solitarily or in pairs, and primarily eat fruits, insects, and small reptiles. A key identification feature is the small white corners on the tail, which are visible in flight. 

Identification Appearance: Black back and wings with a white belly and a red-orange beak. The tail has small white corners that are conspicuous in flight. They have a black eye mask.Size: Medium-sized, about \(50-57\) cm (\(20-22\) in) long.Females: Smaller than males and have turquoise facial skin.Call: A long, insistent series of piping notes. 

Habitat and diet Habitat: Woodland areas, especially those with mopane and Zambezi teak trees, in northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, southern Angola, and eastern Zimbabwe.

Diet: Primarily feed on fruits, large insects like locusts and beetles, nuts, and small reptiles. They also hunt for flying insects. 

Reproduction Nesting: Typically nest in natural tree cavities.Clutch size: Usually lay 3 eggs.Incubation: The female incubates the eggs alone for about 4 weeks.Parental care: After the chicks hatch, the female leaves the nest to help the male with hunting. The chicks stay in the nest for about 2 months. 

Conservation status Status: Classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, the population is likely declining due to habitat loss from logging. 

3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BRADFIELD'S HORNBILL (Lophoceros bradfieldi)

Bradfield's hornbills are African birds found in southern Africa's woodlands, characterized by a black back, white belly, and an orange beak. They are medium-sized, live solitarily or in pairs, and primarily eat fruits, insects, and small reptiles. A key identification feature is the small white corners on the tail, which are visible in flight. 

Identification Appearance: Black back and wings with a white belly and a red-orange beak. The tail has small white corners that are conspicuous in flight. They have a black eye mask.Size: Medium-sized, about \(50-57\) cm (\(20-22\) in) long.Females: Smaller than males and have turquoise facial skin.Call: A long, insistent series of piping notes. 

Habitat and diet Habitat: Woodland areas, especially those with mopane and Zambezi teak trees, in northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, southern Angola, and eastern Zimbabwe.

Diet: Primarily feed on fruits, large insects like locusts and beetles, nuts, and small reptiles. They also hunt for flying insects. 

Reproduction Nesting: Typically nest in natural tree cavities.Clutch size: Usually lay 3 eggs.Incubation: The female incubates the eggs alone for about 4 weeks.Parental care: After the chicks hatch, the female leaves the nest to help the male with hunting. The chicks stay in the nest for about 2 months. 

Conservation status Status: Classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, the population is likely declining due to habitat loss from logging.