Birdsong field guide
Jackson's Hornbill
Tockus jacksoni
A small, dry-country hornbill notable for its striking white wing spots and significant sexual dimorphism in bill coloration.
What it sounds like
A series of rhythmic, nasal clucking or cackling notes typically rendered as 'wok-wok-wok-wok'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Distinguished from the similar Von der Decken's hornbill by the dense white spotting on its wing coverts.
- Displays sexual dichromatism; males have bi-colored red and ivory bills, while females have entirely black bills.
- The female seals herself inside a tree hollow with mud during incubation, leaving only a narrow slit for the male to pass food.
- Its diet is omnivorous, consisting of insects, small lizards, fruit, and seeds found primarily on the ground.
- Often follows large mammals like elephants or primates to capture insects flushed by their movement.
Habitat
Arid savanna, dry thornbush, and open woodland with scattered trees.
Range
Restricted to East Africa, primarily northwestern Kenya and northeastern Uganda.
Similar & commonly confused birds
Damara Red-billed HornbillTockus damarensisEastern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus flavirostrisMonteiro's HornbillTockus monteiriNorthern Red-billed HornbillTockus erythrorhynchusSouthern Red-billed HornbillTockus rufirostrisSouthern Red-billed HornbillTockus rufirostrisSouthern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus leucomelasTanzanian Red-billed HornbillTockus ruahae
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