African Hornbills and Turacos in North American Zoos

TheGerenuk

TheGerenuk

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
I have just been troubled with an extremely difficult question about African birds; How many African hornbill and turaco species are in North American zoos, and which collections keep which species? I would appreciate anyone's help to help set up a near-complete list of these groups of birds. I would like to thank anyone that can support this thread and finalize a complete list.

-:cool::cool:TheWalrus:cool::cool:
 
Utah's Hogle Zoo has Two Von der Decken's Hornbills in it's Small Animal Building and Tracy Aviary has Northern and Southern Ground Hornbills.
 
This is a tricky one, as African species are frequently imported from the wild in North America, so there is a constant trickle of new birds coming in.

What I can tell you is that the following species listed are all established in either private or public hands with at least semi-viable breeding populations, however I am not of any help in regards to exact numbers or specific holders.

Hornbills:
Silvery Cheeked
Trumpeter
Piping
Northern Ground
Southern Ground
Black Casqued
White Crested
Red Billed
Von Der Deckens
Jacksons
Yellow Billed
African Pied
African Grey
Eastern Yellow Billed
Southern Yellow Billed
Crowned

There is 1 White Thighed Hornbill at a zoo in Arizona, and possibly a few more in private hands, and possibly a couple of Black and White Casqued and White Crowned Hornbills still kicking around, but I'm very doubtful on the last two.

Turacos:

Great Blue
Lady Ross
Violaceous
Guinea/Gold Coast/Persa Persa
Schalow's
Livingstone's
White Cheeked
Red Crested
Purple Crested
Fischers
White Crested
Western Grey Plantain Eater
White Bellied Go-Away Bird
Bare Faced Go-Away Bird

All of the species listed above are represented by at least 2-3 breeding pairs sans the go-away birds, and for the majority +10 breeding pairs. I believe there are also a few Knysa and Hartlaubs still kicking around, however they were never established well like the others. As for the GAB's, there are a couple of each gender still kicking around in both zoos and private hands (I would say no more than 20 for both species combined at most), however they do not seem to be bred near as regularly and many of the birds are quite old now, so sadly the outlook is not good for them still being in collections 10 years from now, unless major breeding picks up and we get some more imports from either Africa or Europe to bolster the population.
 
Hyak_II said:
Hornbills:
Silvery Cheeked
Trumpeter
Piping
Northern Ground
Southern Ground
Black Casqued
White Crested
Red Billed
Von Der Deckens
Jacksons
Yellow Billed
African Pied
African Grey
Eastern Yellow Billed
Southern Yellow Billed
Crowned
Click to expand...
Using your list as basis:
Silvery-cheeked: 60+. Often kept off exhibit as a program animal, though a few zoos which exhibit them include Omaha, Tampa, and perhaps Pittsburgh (did anyone ever figure out whether they’re actually there?)

Trumpeter: definitely around, but not as common as some species. I’ve seen them at Dallas and Gladys Porter, and perhaps others.

Piping: I know nothing of their population in North America.

Northern and southern ground: breed pretty regularly to my knowledge, and can be seen at quite a few zoos each.

Black casqued: I’m only aware of these being kept at SDZ and perhaps Boise.

White-crested: Bronx, Central Park, and SDZ keep the nominate subspecies. They are around privately.

Red-billed: not sure on the status. Any pure ones hanging around?

Von der Decken’s: again, not too sure, but I’ve seen them at Maryland, Smithsonian, and Kansas City.

Jackson’s: only a pair at Dallas to my knowledge.

African pied/grey: I’ve never seen them at or heard of any NA zoo with them, but both are around privately.

Eastern yellow-billed: seems to be the most common of the Small African hornbills in public collections, in my experience.

Southern yellow-billed: only Cameron Park Zoo seems to keep it in the US, unsure otherwise.

Crowned: seems to be one of the rarer species. They are kept at Houston and San Antonio.

Yellow-casqued: a pair is kept at Memphis.

White-crowned: a pair is kept at St. Augustine.
 
These are the ones I know of and have seen:

Brookfield Zoo: Violaceous Turaco, Red-Billed Hornbill, Red-Crested Turaco
Milwaukee County Zoo: Violaceous Turaco, Red-Billed Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbill
Minnesota Zoo: Lady Ross's Turaco, White-Cheeked Turaco
Henry Vilas Zoo: White-Cheeked Turaco
Timbavati Wildlife Park: Violaceous Turaco
Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago): Red-Billed Hornbill, Violaceous Turaco
 
Theses are the zoos I've been to:

Fort Worth Zoo: Abyssinian ground hornbill, trumpeter hornbill, violet turaco
Dallas Zoo: Southern ground hornbill, Jackson's hornbill, trumpeter hornbill, Ross's turaco, Guinea turaco, violet turaco, white-cheeked turaco, Western plantain-eater
Dallas World Aquarium: white-crested turaco, Fischer's turaco, great blue turaco
Cameron Park Zoo: Southern yellow-billed hornbill, Jackson's hornbill, Fischer's turaco
Abilene Zoo: trumpeter hornbill
Caldwell Zoo: trumpeter hornbill, Hartlaub's turaco
Oklahoma City Zoo: red-billed hornbill, Von der Decken's hornbill
Houston Zoo: crowned hornbill, piping hornbill, Southern ground hornbill, Ross's turaco, Hartlaub's turaco, Fischer's turaco, great blue turaco, white-bellied go-away-bird
San Antonio Zoo: Southern ground hornbill, crowned hornbill, purple-crested turaco, Ross's turaco, violet turaco, great blue turaco
Sedgwick County Zoo: Abyssinian ground hornbill, violet turaco, Schalow's turaco, great blue turaco, white-bellied go-away-bird
San Diego Zoo: trumpeter hornbill, white-crested hornbill, great blue turaco, white-bellied go-away-bird
 
Last edited:
From memory and photos here’s what I have for African hornbills and turacos within the last 5 years. Please note these are NOT complete lists for all of these facilities, they are what I have seen!

Oregon Zoo (Jul 2016)

White-cheeked Turaco (saw 2)
Red-billed Hornbill (saw 2, assuming 1.1)
Southern Ground Hornbill (1.1)

Sacramento Zoo (Aug 2017)

Red-billed Hornbill (saw 2, guessing 1.1)
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (saw 0.1, believe they still have 1.1)

San Diego Zoo (Dec 2017)

White-bellied Go-Away-Bird (saw 2 in one aviary, also signed in another)
Great Blue Turaco (saw 2, 1.1?)
Western Long-tailed Hornbill (saw 1)
Trumpeter Hornbill (saw 1.0)
Southern Ground Hornbill (saw 1)

Don’t doubt I’m missing some, but these are the ones I remember/have photos and can confirm.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Jan 2018)

Red-crested Turaco (saw 1)
Ross’s Turaco (2 seen, assuming 1.1)
Great Blue Turaco (2 seen, assuming 1.1)
Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill (at least 2, sex unknown)
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (1.1)

San Francisco Zoo (Jul 2013)

Western Gray Plantain Eater (saw 1)
Southern Ground Hornbill (1.1)

Seaworld San Diego (Dec 2017)

Great Blue Turaco (2 birds, I assume 1.1)

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Aug 2015)

Von der Decken’s Hornbill (remember seeing 2 or 3)
Southern Ground Hornbill (saw 1)

Turtle Bay Exploration Park (May 2018)

Violet Turaco (0.1)
 
Ggrarl said:
Theses are the zoos I've been to:

Fort Worth Zoo: Abyssinian ground hornbill, trumpeter hornbill, violet turaco
Click to expand...

I must now add Southern ground hornbill, white-cheeked turaco, and great blue turaco
 
White-crested hornbill was the former common name for the long-tailed hornbill. White-crested hornbill is now used for the Asian species - Berenicornis comatus - (This species is kept at Augustine) But for the long-tailed (Horizocerus albocristatus) - now only at the Bronx and SDZ. There are some in private hands.

Yellow-casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna elata) - at SDWAP and Memphis (sibling pair of SDWAP birds), and one in private hands.

Black-casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata) - 1 female at SDZ.

Southern yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is now gone from Cameron park. The last individual died in 2015 at over 20 years of age.

Jackson’s Hornbill (Tockus jacksoni) - 1 bird at Dallas, and one at another zoo with a couple in private hands.

White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis) - one single bird at Wildlife World Zoo. They have been unable to find a partner.

Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator) - the last two males in the U.S in public collections were sent to zoos in the Czech Republic. Maybe in private hands.
 
So here is what this thread has so far (species in order of when they were mentioned on this thread). It is by no means complete, but it is a start.

Hornbills

Red-Billed Hornbill (5 species in the genus Tockus)
Brookfield Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo

Trumpeter Hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator)
Brookfield Zoo (?)
Dallas Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Abilene Zoo
Caldwell Zoo
San Diego Zoo

Von Der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni)
Utah's Hogle Zoo
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Smithsonian National Zoo
Kansas City Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Northern or Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus)
Tracy Aviary
Fort Worth Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)
Tracy Aviary
Milwaukee County Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Houston Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo

Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis)
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (?)
Capron Park Zoo

Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator)
Houston Zoo (?)

Black-Casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata)
San Diego Zoo
Zoo Boise (?)

White-Crested Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus)
Bronx Zoo
Central Park Zoo (?)
San Diego Zoo

Jackson's Hornbill (Tockus jacksoni)
Dallas Zoo
Cameron Park Zoo

Eastern Yellow-Billed Hornbill (Tockus flavirostris)
Cincinnati Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
Cameron Park Zoo

Crowned Hornbill (Lophoceros alboterminatus)
Houston Zoo
San Antonio Zoo

White-Thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis)
Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium

Yellow-Casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna elata)
Memphis Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Turacos

Violet Turaco (Musophaga violacea)
Brookfield Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Lincoln Park Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Dallas Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
Capron Park Zoo

White-Cheeked Turaco (Tauraco leucotis)
Brookfield Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo

Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata)
Dallas World Aquarium
Houston Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
SeaWorld San Diego
Fort Worth Zoo

Lady Ross's Turaco (Musophaga rossae)
Cincinnati Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Houston Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Guinea Turaco (Tauraco persa)
Dallas Zoo

Schalow's Turaco (Tauraco schalowi)
Sedgwick County Zoo

Red-Crested Turaco (Tauraco erythrolophus)
Brookfield Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Capron Park Zoo

Purple-Crested Turaco (Gallirex porphyreolophus)
San Antonio Zoo

Fischer's Turaco (Tauraco fischeri)
Dallas World Aquarium
Cameron Park Zoo
Houston Zoo

White-Crested Turaco (Tauraco leucolophus)
Dallas World Aquarium

Western Gray Plantain-Eater (Crinifer piscator)
Dallas Zoo
San Francisco Zoo

White-Bellied Go-Away-Bird (Corythaixoides leucogaster)
Houston Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
San Diego Zoo

Hartlaub's Turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi)
Caldwell Zoo
Houston Zoo
 
birdsandbats said:
Hornbills

Red-Billed Hornbill (5 species in the genus Tockus)
Brookfield Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
Click to expand...

Birmingham, Riverbanks, Fort Wayne, Lowry Park, Memphis, Oakland, Omaha, Sea World (not sure which ones), Riverview (Peterborough, Ontario), Central Florida, Tulsa, and Wildlife Safari (Oregon) should all hold this species (which is usually, if not always, identified as T. erythrorhynchus whether that's accurate or not).

birdsandbats said:
Hornbills

Von Der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni)
Utah's Hogle Zoo
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Smithsonian National Zoo
Kansas City Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Click to expand...

Living Desert (California) and Charles Paddock both holds this species, as I confirmed in the past month. So do Busch Gardens Tampa, Hattiesburg, Brevard, Toronto, Rosamond Gifford, and Binder Park. Bronx and Memphis held them back in 2016, Sea World San Antonio and Prospect Park in 2015; I always forget how far back you're willing to go for this information.
 
I was sort of hoping this type of thread would come up because these are birds I love to see, also with me being close to three zoos with Red-Billed Hornbills I was thinking they would be a lot more common
 
birdsandbats said:
Hornbills

Trumpeter Hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator)
Brookfield Zoo (?)
Dallas Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Abilene Zoo
Caldwell Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Click to expand...

North Carolina, Binder Park, Boise, Buffalo, Denver, David Traylor Zoo (Emporia, KS) (2015 - good luck finding anything more recent for this small place), and... others. I'll come back and continue working another day.
 
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