Angola, Burundi, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania [United Republic of], Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
South-western Ethiopia; north-eastern Zaire, north-western Uganda, central Kenya and southern Somalia south to Angola, extreme north-eastern Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and eastern South Africa.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Crowned Hornbill (Lophoceros alboterminatus) [XC633888]
by Louis A. Hansen from Jozani Forest NP, Kusini, Unguja South Region, Tanzania, Tanzania (song)
Crowned Hornbill (Lophoceros alboterminatus) [XC430629]
by Louis A. Hansen from Chelinda Camp, Nyika National Park, Malawi (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Bradfield's Hornbill (Lophoceros bradfieldi) and Congo Pied Hornbill (Lophoceros fasciatus) and closely related also to Hemprich's Hornbill (Lophoceros hemprichii). All have similar calls and displays.
Various subspecies proposed on basis of differences in size and darkness of plumage, including geloensis from north-eastern and east of range, suahelicus from eastern coastal forest, stegmanni from Uganda to eastern Zaire and western Tanzania, angolensis from northern Angola and nearby parts of Zaire, and australis from south, but populations intergrade widely. Species formerly referred to as Lophoceros melanoleucos, but this name clearly applies to some other taxon, possibly Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris).