Monteiros hornbill

Introduction: Monteiro's hornbill (Tockus monteiri) is named after Joachim J Monteiro (1833-1878) a mining engineer who collected Angolan bird specimens from 1860-1878. Within the hornbill species, it is Monteiro's hornbill that occupy the driest of habitats, favouring stony, hilly country with watercourses, especially the Namibian escarpment. They occur in flat areas, consistent with large, scattered trees as well.

Distribution: Central and northern Namibia including Etosha National Park, Windhoek, Epupa Falls and other regions of Kaokoland, Damaraland and the Erongo Mountains.

Diet: Small ground animals, crickets, scorpions, centipedes, moths, caterpillars, wasps, beetles and grasshoppers. Other prey includes flap-necked chameleons, skinks, frogs, birds eggs and young black-tailed tree rats.

Description: Small to medium hornbills with brown, grey, or black and white plumages. Distinctive 'tocking' voice.

Breeding: Females lay between 2 and 8 eggs between October and March. Incubation period are 24 to 27 days.

Size: 50 t 58cm.

Weight: 370g.