Southern Ground Hornbill

Appearance

It is also commonly known as the Southern Ground Hornbill and is the largest African hornbill. The Ground Hornbill is related to the Northern Ground Hornbill or the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. The similarity to these two bird species is very strong, so the Ground Hornbill is often confused with them.

The Ground Hornbill is a locally common resident bird. Its habitat extends from Kenya to eastern South Africa. An adult Ground Hornbill can reach up to 105 cm in body length, a wingspan of up to 185 cm, and can weigh up to 4 kg. Its entire plumage is characterized by a deep black color. However, during flight, the white primaries are clearly visible. The Ground Hornbill has bare skin on its head and neck, which is bright red in males and can be red or blue in females. On its beak, it has a large, closed horn at the front.

Behavior

The Ground Hornbill does not live in trees like its relatives. It moves in pairs or small family groups across the ground. However, it is quite capable of flying up into tall trees when threatened and can successfully drive off big cats and birds of prey. For its habitat, it prefers open terrain and sparse forests and likes to stay in moist grassy plains.

Diet

Its diet consists of small vertebrates, insects, spiders, scorpions, small turtles and lizards, as well as small amounts of fruits and seeds. It also does not shy away from carrion.
The breeding season begins with the rainy season. Then the Ground Hornbill begins to vocalize frequently, emitting deep grunting sounds in rhythmic patterns. The female usually lays two eggs within a month. The chicks are then fed for about nine months. They only become sexually mature after three years and stay with their parents for that long.