Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill

## About

An Eastern yellow-billed hornbill perched in a tree.

The eastern yellow-billed hornbill ***(Tockus flavirostris)*** is a subspecies of the yellow-billed hornbills, that common throughout eastern Africa. Being extremely well spread throughout Africa, yellow-billed hornbills have diverged and have sprouted into two subspecies, with the other subspecies being the southern yellow-billed hornbill ***(Tockus luecomelas)***. Yellow-billed hornbills exhibit a bright yellowish orange bill, that is present in both sexes, as well as light grey monotone plumage that coats the hornbill's entire body, excluding the black and pink exposed skin around its eyes and throat. Yellow-billed hornbills are relatively small, and grow to a length of 50-60cm (19-24in) and weigh around less than 0.50kg (less than 1lbs).

## Diet

Both subspecies of yellow-billed hornbill are carnivorous, preying upon insects, gastropods, and lizards. on rarer occasions the red-billed hornbill will eat the eggs or nestlings of other birds. Most peculiarly, yellow-billed hornbills exhibit a mutualistic relationship with dwarf mongooses ***(Helogale parvula)***. While the mongooses run through the dry grass, they will disturb insects and small reptiles, allowing the hornbills to more efficiently hunt and catch them. In return for the free meal, the hornbill will lookout for birds of prey, producing a loud alarm call, warning the mongooses to retreat to the safety of their burrows.

## Conservation Status

The conservation status of the eastern yellow-billed hornbill is least concern according to the IUCN. Eastern yellow-billed hornbills are not immediately threatened by humans and there is no urgency to enforce any serious conservation measures to grow the population.

## Range and Population

eastern yellow-billed hornbills have a massive range and inhabit most countries on the northeast cost of Africa. Yellow-billed hornbills live in dry savannas and subtropical environments of the Horn of Africa, including regions as far North as coastal Eritrea. Eastern yellow-billed hornbills have an unknown population however, the population is known to be in a decreasing state despite the bird's lack of human threats. Overall the eastern yellow-billed hornbill is not experiencing any mass population changes, and is still believed to be doing relatively well in the wild.

## Behaviour

Both yellow-billed hornbill subspecies are diurnal birds, coming out during the day and sleeping safely in treetops at night. Unlike many other hornbill species, yellow-billed hornbills are mostly solitary excluding the breeding season, and are at most seen in small groups or pairs. As previously discussed, yellow-billed hornbills forage for food on the ground in long grasses, in particular eastern yellow-billed hornbills will team up with dwarf mongooses to catch food. This behavioural relationship goes beyond a mutualistic method of hunting, and dwarf mongoose pups have been observed playing with eastern yellow-billed hornbills by playing dead to witness the bird's reaction.

### Relationship with Humans

Eastern yellow-billed hornbills are a common bird in their range, and because of this, they interact with humans often. eastern yellow-billed hornbills and other African hornbill species are often found living near farmlands, these individuals interact with humans daily, and in some cases have become dependent on humans for food.

## In Captivity

Both species of yellow-billed hornbills are found commonly in zoos worldwide. They are most common in the US, being exhibited at Oregon Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo and San Diego Zoo. Internationally they can be found in European zoos such as Tierpark, Germany and Zlin Lesna Zoo, Czechia (Czech Republic).

## Sources

* Zoo Institutes - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/yellow-billed-hornbill-1601/
* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22682379/92942633
* NAT GEO Wild - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjkuMFZBJ3k