Crowned Hornbill

South African Kronentoko, females

• T. albiterminatus albiterminatus, ( Büttikofer, 1889)
• T. alboterminatus geloensis, ( Neumann, 1905)
• T. alboterminatus suahelicus, ( Neumann, 1905)

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

Appearance

The Kronentoko is 50-54 cm long and has a red beak with a low horn and yellow eyes. The plumage is dark brown, only the belly and the tail tips are white. The male has a much longer horn - it extends almost to the tip of the beak - than the female. Young animals do not have a horn and have an orange colored beak. The Kronentoko differs from Felsentoko by a shorter beak and his horn, from Hemprich - Toko through his yellow eyes and almost black cock.

Dissemination

The Kronentoko is a common resident of coastal and riverine forests. The distribution area extends into East Africa from southern Kenya to Mozambique. About Zambia and the southeastern Congo reaches a strip to the west coast of Angola.

The three subspecies are found in the following countries:

• Tockus alboterminatus alboterminatus ( Angola Kronentoko ): Angola
• Tockus alboterminatus geloensis ( East African Kronentoko ): Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia;
• Tockus alboterminatus suahelicus ( South African Kronentoko ): Somalia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa;

Food

The diet consists of insects, which are often caught in flight, small mammals and frogs, fruits and seeds.

Behavior

The Kronentoko nests mainly in natural cavities in trees. The female lays four to five eggs, which are incubated for 25 to 30 days. The young birds remain with both parents together for about eight weeks.