Abyssinian Scimitarbill
Rhinopomastus minor
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderBucerotiformes (Hornbills and Hoopoes)
- FamilyPhoeniculidae (Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills)
- GenusRhinopomastus (Scimitarbills)
- SpeciesRhinopomastus minor (Abyssinian Scimitarbill)
About the Abyssinian Scimitarbill
The Abyssinian scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus minor) is a species of bird in the family Phoeniculidae. The term Abyssinia, is an old name for the region of Ethiopia, and scimitar refers to a curved sword, which its bill resembles. It is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The bird is non migratory, diurnal, and terrestrial. Their nests are sometimes parasitized by the greater honeyguide (Indicator indicator) which are favored by some because they can guide to beehives.
The bird is all black with a blue-purple iridescence which covers their whole body and especially the back of the head. The bird's beak is bright orange to red and is characteristically curved and pointed. It is slightly longer than the length of its head and is built to probe into cracks and crevices for insects. It can be differentiated from other wood hoopoes by its all black legs and shorter tail, which is about the length of the bird's body excluding its head.
The males coloring tends to be more blue, whereas the females have more brown tones especially in the head. Males also tend to be slightly larger than females. Their bill length... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Abyssinian Scimitarbill in Serengeti National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Serengeti National Park
Common Scimitarbill
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Green Wood Hoopoe
Phoeniculus purpureus
African Grey Hornbill
Lophoceros nasutus
Southern Ground-Hornbill
Bucorvus leadbeateri
Von der Decken's Hornbill
Tockus deckeni
Common Hoopoe
Upupa epops
African Hoopoe
Upupa africana
Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus ruahae
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus erythrorhynchus
Crowned Hornbill
Lophoceros alboterminatus
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
Bycanistes subcylindricus
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
Bycanistes brevis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 2 | Awash National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 3 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 4 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 5 | Meru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 6 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 7 | Mkomazi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 8 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 9 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 10 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 11 | Nairobi National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 12 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 13 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 14 | Arusha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 15 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 16 | Lake Nakuru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 17 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Abyssinian Scimitarbill in Serengeti National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Abyssinian Scimitarbill sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 405 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Abyssinian Scimitarbill in Serengeti National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Abyssinian Scimitarbill in Serengeti National Park in our monthly data.