SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL

The 'Southern Ground Hornbill', ''Bucorvus leadbeateri'' or ''cafer'', is one of two species of ground-hornbill and is the largest species of hornbill.
It is a large bird, at 90 to 129 cm (36 to 51 in) long and a weight of 3.2 to 6.2 kg (7 to 13.6 lbs). It is characterized by black coloration and vivid red patches of bare skin on the face and throat (yellow in juvenile birds). The white tips of the wings (primary feathers) seen in flight are another diagnostic characteristic. The beak is black, straight and presents a casque, more developed in males. Female Southern Ground Hornbills are smaller and have violet-blue skin on their throats.
Its habitat comprises savannahs, woodlands and grasslands. It can be found from from northern Namibia and Angola to northern South Africa to Burundi and Kenya. The Southern Ground Hornbill is a vulnerable species, mainly confined to national reserves and national parks. They live in groups of 5 to 10 individuals including adults and juveniles. Often, neighbouring groups are engaged in aerial pursuits. They forage on the ground, where they feed on reptiles, frogs, snails, insects and mammals up to the size of hares. Juveniles are dependent on adults for 6 to 12 months.
The other species of the genus ''Bucorvus'' is the Abyssinian Ground-hornbill, ''B. abyssinicus''.

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References

External links

References

★ Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

★ Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds, Kemp, Alan, , , Firefly Books, 2003, ISBN 1-55297-777-3

★ Maclean, Gordon Lindsay. ''Roberts' Birds of South Africa'', 6th Edition

★ Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania, Zimmerman, Dale A., Donald A. Turner, and David J. Pearson, , , Princeton University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-691-01022-6

External links

★ Southern Ground Hornbill videos on the Internet Bird Collection

★ Pictures of the Southern Ground-hornbill