Crowned Hornbill

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Silhouette: Charles J. Sharp and T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Masai Mara National Reserve
48 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
5,095 Verified sightings across all 39 parks From 2019 to 2026
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Crowned Hornbill

The crowned hornbill (Lophoceros alboterminatus) is an African hornbill. It is a medium-sized bird, 50–54 centimetres (20–21 in) in length, and is characterized by its white belly and black back and wings. The tips of the long tail feathers are white. The eyes are yellow; the beak is red and presents a stocky casque on the upper mandible. In females, the casque is smaller. The crowned hornbill can be distinguished from the similar Bradfield's hornbill by its shorter beak.

The crowned hornbill is a common resident of the coastal and riverine forests of southern (only the eastern coast) to northeastern Africa. It forages mainly in trees, where it feeds on insects (often caught in flight), small rodents, small reptiles, eggs, seeds and fruits. This hornbill species can be seen in flocks, usually in the dry season. Four to five white eggs are incubated for 25 to 30 days; the juveniles remain with both parents for about 8 weeks.

Gordon Lindsay Maclean, Robert's Birds of South Africa, 6th Edition ISBN 0-620-17583-4 Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

African Grey Hornbill
LC

African Grey Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros nasutus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Von der Decken's Hornbill
LC

Von der Decken's Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus deckeni

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
LC

Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bycanistes subcylindricus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
LC

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
LC

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bycanistes brevis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Southern Ground-Hornbill
VU

Southern Ground-Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Common Hoopoe
LC

Common Hoopoe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Upupa epops

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
African Hoopoe

African Hoopoe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Upupa africana

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Green Wood Hoopoe
LC

Green Wood Hoopoe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoeniculus purpureus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Abyssinian Scimitarbill
LC

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhinopomastus minor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Scimitarbill
LC

Common Scimitarbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~60%
2 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
3 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~50%
4 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
5 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~30%
6 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~30%
7 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
8 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
9 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
10 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
11 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
12 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
13 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
14 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
15 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
16 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
17 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
18 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
19 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
20 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
21 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
22 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
23 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
24 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
25 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
26 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
27 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
28 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
29 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
30 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
31 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
32 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
33 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
34 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
35 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
36 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
37 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
38 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
39 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Crowned Hornbill in Masai Mara National Reserve?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Crowned Hornbill sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 48 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Crowned Hornbill in Masai Mara National Reserve?

March has the highest sighting rate for Crowned Hornbill in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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