A teratological case of Monteiro's hornbill (Tockus monteiri) with beak deformity in Namibia (Aves: Bucerotiformes: Bucerotidae)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64640/63f7vtn1

Keywords:

Avian keratin disorder, beak abnormality, elongated beak, Monteiro's hornbill, Namibia, rhamphotheca

Abstract

This note describes a case of beak deformity in a specimen of Monteiro's hornbill (Tockus monteiri Hartlaub, 1865) observed in north-central Namibia. The deformity consisted of an elongated upper mandible. Although this teratology presumably makes it more difficult to find food and maintain its feathers, the observed bird had reached adult size and appeared to be healthy.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-10

Issue

Vol. 11 (2026): Namibian Journal of Environment

Section

Section B: Short Communications

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Articles in this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. The copyright of all articles and field notes belongs to the authors. All other copyright is held by the journal.