African Pied Hornbill

Elstertoko ( Tockus fasciatus )

The Elstertoko ( Tockus fasciatus ), is an African bird that belongs to the hornbills ( Bucerotidae ).

Appearance

It is 54 cm long and has mainly black plumage, only the belly and the tail tips are white. The long black and yellow beak has a medium sized horn. The female differs from the male only by a smaller horn. Young birds have a duller plumage and a smaller beak without a horn.

Dissemination

The Elstertoko is a widespread breeding bird in forests in a strip along the coast of Gambia in West Africa to Cameroon. In Central Africa, the range extends to western Uganda in the east and north of Angola in the south.

Food

The food consists of insects and fruits. The Elstertokos often feed on trees, particularly palm oil.

Behavior

The Flight of the Elstertokos is surging. The striking and gregarious bird makes through a " pee - pee - pee - pee " Cry attention to itself.

The female lays in a tree hollow, which closes it with clay, manure and fruit pulp up to four eggs. Only a small hole, just big enough for the males feed can by pass for the female and the chicks remains. Thus, the cavity remains clean the manure is thrown through the opening to the outside. When the chicks are too large for the cavity along with the mother breaks this on the lid and leave the cave. The closure is made ​​again and both parents feed the young.

System

In addition to the nominate subspecies is found

• Tockus fasciatus ssp. semifasciatus, ( Hartlaub, 1855)