The largest of the hornbill species, the southern ground hornbill is also one of the most familiar because of its distinctive facial wattles and its adaptability to captive environments, making it a guest at many zoos and aviaries worldwide.

Common Name: Southern Ground Hornbill, African Ground Hornbill, Leadbeater's Ground Hornbill, Turkey Buzzard

Scientific Name: Bucorvus leadbeateri (formerly Bucorvus cafer)


Scientific Family: Bucorvidae

Appearance:

• Bill: Large, thick, slightly decurved, subtle casque on the upper mandible, black
• Size: 35-40 inches long with 48-60-inch wingspan, long tail, heavy build
• Colors: Black, red, blue, yellow, white, brown
• Markings: Dimorphic species. Males are allover black with prominent smooth, bright red wattles around the eyes and on the throat, as well as a red throat pouch. The primary feathers are white but are only visible in flight. Delicate feathers on the head and throat give these birds a fuzzy appearance. Females are similar to males but show a dark blue or violet patch on the throat pouch, and are slightly smaller than males. Both genders have pale yellow eyes and dramatic black eyelashes, and their powerful legs and feet are black or grayish-black.
  
  Juveniles are similar to adults but their wattles and throat pouch are a dirty yellowish color, and their plumage is more brownish-black rather than darker black.
  
  Species is monotypic.

Foods: Reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, insects, mammals, carrion, fruit, seeds (See: Carnivorous)

Habitat and Migration:

These large, terrestrial birds prefer moist woodland habitats, particularly with broadleaf trees for nighttime roosting, and are also found in open savannah and short grassland regions while foraging during the day. They do not typically migrate but may be nomadic depending on local weather conditions and water supplies, as well as food availability, but generally stay below 10,000 feet elevation.

The year-round range of the southern ground hornbill extends throughout eastern sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Kenya through Zimbabwe, northeastern Botswana and northern Namibia to southwestern Mozambique and into northeastern South Africa and Swaziland. They are scarcer in the southernmost part of their range.

Vocalizations:

During the breeding season, these hornbills can be quite vocal with booming, deep grunts or growling calls in very low pitches that can be heard up to two miles away. The slow notes stay on a single pitch and may be repeated in a long sequence, and the throat pouches inflate for each call. Outside the breeding season, southern ground hornbills are generally silent.

Behavior:

These birds live in small family groups and can be aggressive when defending their territory. They forage on the ground, walking slowly and deliberately as they stalk prey, and they may shake their prey or beat it on a rock to kill it before eating. These are tactile birds that often engage in play fights or chasing. They are long-lived, living up to 30-40 years in the wild as long as 60-70 years in captivity.

Reproduction:

These are monogamous birds that mate for life. Feeding rituals may be part of their courtship behavior, but more elaborate displays have not been recorded. As cavity-nesting birds, they prefer nests in hollow trees but will occasionally use cliff caves, and they may return to the same nesting sites in different years. There are 1-3 plain white, rough-textured eggs in each brood, and only one brood is raised every 2-3 years.

The female parent incubates the eggs for 40-45 days, with the male bringing her food on the nest during the early weeks of incubation. After hatching, she continues to care for the chicks for 80-85 days, but because one egg generally hatches several days before its siblings, the older chick most often usurps the majority of the food and the other chicks do not survive. Once the living chick is old enough to leave the nest, it remains under its parents' care and guidance for several months, and may stay with the family group for years, helping raise new generations.

Attracting Southern Ground Hornbills:

While these are not typical backyard birds, in areas where they do come near human habitation, they can be considered a nuisance because they will aggressively attack their reflections in glass, often breaking windows or doors with their strong bills. They are popular birds in captivity, however, and are often seen in zoos, aviaries and bird sanctuaries around the world.

Conservation:

While the overall population of southern ground hornbills is considered vulnerable to various threats, including habitat loss and occasional persecution, in smaller parts of their range they may be classified as endangered or critically endangered. Because these birds must be 6-7 years old before they begin to breed and may only raise a single chick every 2-3 years, population decreases cannot be easily reversed and captive breeding programs may be essential to stabilize severe declines.

Similar Birds:

• Northern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus)
• Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Photo – Southern Ground Hornbill © René C. Nielsen
Photo – Juvenile Southern Ground Hornbill © hyper7pro
Photo – Southern Ground Hornbill Profile © Art G.