Congo Pied Hornbill
Lophoceros fasciatus
A small though long-tailed hornbill that is frequently encountered as it flies singly or in groups over the canopy, between forest gaps, and over road cuts. Distinctive, with a bright white belly and a black head, body, wings, and tail, giving it a bicolored appearance. Similar to West African Pied Hornbill, but usually separated by range, and the sides of the tail are mostly white (instead of having white corners), and the bill is pale yellow with a dark red (rather than black) tip. Calls are a series of high-pitched whistles: “heu heu heu heu.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Lophoceros fasciatus
- Authority
- (Shaw, 1812)
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Genus
- Lophoceros
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Congo pied hornbill is omnivorous and eats fruit and insects. It feeds mainly in trees and is attracted to oil palms.<p>This conspicuous and gregarious bird advertises its presence with its whistling pii-pii-pii-pii- call.<p>When the chicks and the female are too big to fit in the nest, the mother breaks out and rebuilds the wall. Then both parents feed the chicks.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Eutriorchis astur
Very rare and enigmatic large raptor that is endemic to Madagascar. Occurs very locally in pristine eastern rainforest, where it hunts inside of the forest, never soaring. Call is a series of low “how” notes, sometimes delivered in slow series and sometimes more quickly and emphatically. Very similar to Henst’s Goshawk. Subtle differences include slightly larger size, denser barring on the chest, thinner black bands on the tail, and dark barring on the back.
Martens's Warbler
Phylloscopus omeiensis
A bright and attractive small warbler with many virtually identical relatives. Breeds in foothill and montane forests, where it favors areas with a dense understory. Descends into lower elevations in the winter, when it often moves around with mixed flocks. Bright green above and yellow below, with a gray-and-black-striped crown and a bright yellow eyering; note intermediately strong crown patterning and distinct yellow eyering, often weak but not broken above the eye. Song is a series of lively whistles and chirps uttered in discrete bursts.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Icthyophaga leucogaster
Enormous gray and white raptor that soars with wings held in strong V-shape. In flight note black and white underwing pattern, short tail. Juvenile is much browner and can be confused with Wedge-tailed Eagle, but note mostly pale and fairly short tail. Predominantly found along coastlines, as well as estuaries and inland waterways.
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