Western Long-tailed Hornbill
Horizocerus albocristatus
A small-bodied hornbill with an extremely long tail, a dark bill, and an almost entirely white head with a unique crest. Usually found in thick rainforest, where it can be difficult to view. At times, these birds will follow troops of monkeys to eat animals they scare out of the foliage. Vocalizations are unique among African hornbills, including crowlike caws and long mournful wails. Calls can be similar to those of Congo Serpent-Eagle, but White-crested Hornbill often gives more of a wail with a somewhat raspy quality.
Taxonomy
The western long-tailed hornbill was formally described in 1848 by the American ornithologist John Cassin based on a specimen that had been collected near the Saint Paul River in Liberia. He coined the binomial name Buceros albocristatus. The specific epithet combines the Latin albus meaning "white" with cristatus meaning "crested" or "plumed". The species is now placed in the genus Horizocerus that was introduced in 1899 by the American ornithologist Harry C. Oberholser. The western long-tailed hornbill was formerly considered to be conspecific with the eastern long-tailed hornbill (Horizocerus cassini) with the English name "white-crested hornbill".<p>There are two subspecies, which differ primarily in the amount of white to their head and neck and the presence or absence of white tips to the wing-coverts:
- Scientific name
- Horizocerus albocristatus
- Authority
- (Cassin, 1848)
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Genus
- Horizocerus
Range and habitat
The western long-tailed hornbill has a large range in West Africa, occurring from southern Sierra Leone, east to Benin including Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Togo. It is frequent in parts of its range. Although its population is difficult to estimate, it is not thought to be threatened.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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Odd and distinctive terrestrial batis. Has long legs, an upright posture, and a white tail with a black dot near the tip. Found in dry woodland and savanna, often in rocky areas. Spends most of its time on or near the ground, though it will perch up in bushes. Usually in pairs. Vocalizations include piercing whistles, low croaks, and ratcheting calls. Similar to batises, but terrestrial habits and white tail easily identify it.
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