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The black-and-white-casqued hornbill is a large forest hornbill, about 70–80 cm long, with a huge pale bill topped by a casque, black and white plumage and a loud, braying call. Its wingbeats make a distinctive whooshing sound that you often hear before you see it. It is common in Uganda’s forests, including Bwindi, Kibale, Budongo and Mabira, and even in gardens around Entebbe and Kampala, and it plays a key role in spreading the seeds of forest trees.
Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill Uganda: Bwindi’s Signature Bird
Appearance and habits
Males have a larger casque than females. In flight, the white rump and white panels in the wings are obvious. The birds feed mainly on fruit, especially figs, along with insects and small animals, and they travel in pairs or noisy groups between fruiting trees, sometimes covering long distances. Because they swallow fruit whole and drop seeds far away, they help forests regenerate.
Nesting
Like many hornbills, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity with mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit. The male feeds her and the chick through the slit for several months while she moults. This makes them dependent on large old trees with suitable holes, one reason why protecting mature forest matters. See our guide to Bwindi’s forest giants.
Where to see it
You are likely to see or hear it on drives and walks in Bwindi, Kibale and Bigodi, and around Entebbe. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to Bwindi’s birds, the great blue turaco and the ground hornbill.
Frequently asked questions
In Bwindi, Kibale, Budongo, Mabira and around Entebbe.
Their large flight feathers make a loud whooshing sound in flight.
The female seals herself in a tree hole and the male feeds her through a slit.
Mainly fruit, especially figs, plus insects and small animals.
