There are 2 families in the Order Bucerotiformes. They are the Family Bucerotidae (typical hornbills) and the Family Bucorvidae (ground hornbills).

FAMILY BUCEROTIDAE
Typical hornbills are small to large birds with the instantly recognizable long, heavy, de-curved bills, often with a ridge on the upper mandible (jaw) which extends into a horny ridge. Plumages are usually black, brown, white and brown. Habitat ranges extend from forest to dry savannah. Foraging takes place in trees and on the ground in search of a varied carnivorous and fruit diet. Nests are excavated in holes in trees or in rocks. A feature of their nest building is the sealing of their nests with muddy materials by the females to close the entrance until the male is barely able to enter. Once inside the male reduces the opening to a narrow slit. There are 8 species of this family found in Namibia. They are:

• Monteiro's hornbill (Tockus monteiri)
• Red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)
• Damara hornbill (Tockus damarensis)
• Southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
• Crowned hornbill (Tockus alboterminatus)
• Bradfield's hornbill (Tockus bradfieldi)
• African grey hornbill (Tockus nasutus)
• Trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator)

FAMILY BUCORVIDAE
This family is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and are some of the largest of all the flying birds. Plumages are usually black with white primaries. Their deep, booming voices are heard all over their habitat range of grassland and savannah, with an environment that includes rock faces and large trees. Ground hornbills, as the name suggests, spend most of their time on the ground, are mainly carnivorous and pick and dig with their large bills. Nests cavities remain open and are lined with grass and leaves. There is just the 1 species of ground hornbill found in Namibia:

• Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

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