Southern Ground Hornbil

Southern Ground Hornbil

African ground hornbill, Ground hornbill, Southern ground-hornbill, Caferl

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Bucorvus leadbeateri
Population size
1,500
Life Span
50-70 years
Top speed
30
19
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
2-6
4.4-13.2
kglbs
kg lbs 
Length
90-129
35.4-50.8
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
1.2-1.8
3.9-5.9
mft
m ft 

The southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri ; formerly known as Bucorvus cafer ), is one of two species of ground hornbill, which are both found solely within Africa, and is the largest species of hornbill worldwide. It can be found in the southern regions of Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. Within these regions, they inhabit both woodlands and savannas. The other species of the genus Bucorvus found in Africa is the Abyssinian ground hornbill, B. abyssinicus.

Show More

Southern ground hornbills are carnivorous and mostly hunt on the ground, where they find the majority of their food. This food ranges from insects to small animals. Their nests are often found in high tree cavities or other shallow cavities, such as rock holes in cliff faces. These birds are a long lived species, having lifespans in the range of 50–60 years, and up to 70 in captivity. In relation to their long lives, they do not reach sexual maturity until 4–6 years old, and begin breeding around 10 years old. Their sex can be identified by the color of their throats, where the male's is pure red and the female's is a deep violet-blue.

Southern ground hornbills are a culturally pervasive and important species in southern Africa. Kruger National Park, located within South Africa, lists southern ground hornbills as one of their ‘Big Six’ bird species. However, their numbers have been declining, due in part to persecution, habitat destruction, cultural beliefs, and other factors. They are listed globally as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN as of 2018, and ‘Endangered’ in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.

Show Less

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

In

Insectivores

Sc

Scavenger

Te

Terrestrial

Pr

Predator

Al

Altricial

Te

Territorial

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

Do

Dominance hierarchy

No

Not a migrant

S

starts with

Appearance

The Southern ground hornbill is one of two species of ground hornbill, which are both found solely within Africa; it is the largest species of hornbill worldwide. The Southern ground hornbill is characterized by black coloration and vivid red patches of bare skin on the face and throat (yellow in juvenile birds), which are generally believed to keep dust out of the birds' eyes while they forage during the dry season. The white tips of the wings (primary feathers) seen in flight are another diagnostic characteristic. The beak is black and straight and presents a casque, more developed in males. Females are smaller and have violet-blue skin on their throats. Juveniles to six years old lack the prominent red pouch but have a duller patch of grey in its place.

Distribution

Geography

Southern ground hornbills are found from northern Namibia and Angola to northern South Africa and southern Zimbabwe to Burundi and Kenya. They require a savanna habitat with large trees for nesting and dense but short grass for foraging.

Southern Ground Hornbil habitat map

Climate zones

Southern Ground Hornbil habitat map
Southern Ground Hornbil
Attribution-ShareAlike License

Habits and Lifestyle

Southern ground hornbills don't migrate. They live in groups of 5 to 10 individuals including adults and juveniles. These groups occupy and defend large territories against neighboring groups and often chase each other in aerial pursuits. Southern ground hornbills are active during the day and at night roost in trees. They forage on the ground, walking slowly searching for food. To hunt some difficult prey such as snakes, hornbills gather in groups. They are very vocal and communicate with each other with booming calls in the chorus which can usually be heard at distances of up to 3 kilometers (1.86 mi). The calls allow each group to maintain its territories, which must be as large as 100 square kilometers (40 sq mi) even in the best habitat.

Group name
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Southern ground hornbills are carnivores and feed on reptiles, frogs, snails, insects and small mammals such as hares and squirrels. They will occasionally consume some fruit and seeds.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
September-December
INCUBATION PERIOD
40-45 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
1-2 years
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
1-3 eggs

Southern ground hornbills are monogamous and form long-lasting pair bonds. Each breeding pair is always assisted by at least two other birds, a behavior known as cooperative breeding. The mating season usually lasts between September and December. Southern ground hornbills nest in deep hollows in very old trees, or in cliffs. Their nest is lined with dry leaves and grasses. The female lays 1 to 3 white eggs but only one chick is raised. The eggs are incubated 40-45 days by a female and during this time she is fed by group members. The period of parental dependence following an 85-day fledging period is between 1 and 2 years depending on climatic conditions before the young are independent of parents and helpers, which is the longest of any bird. This means that Ground hornbills can normally breed successfully only every third year. These birds are believed to reach reproductive maturity at 6 to 7 years, but very few breed at this age.

Population

Population threats

Southern ground hornbills are classed as vulnerable to extinction globally. Such classification is heavily tied to their slow reproductive rates and other, numerous environmental factors. Habitat loss, changes due to agriculture, deforestation, electrocution from power lines, accidental poisoning, and persecution are the major factors that affect their populations. Persecution and hunting of the Southern ground hornbill by humans have continued to be a complex issue. Recent studies have found that these birds have been hunted more than previously believed, including in protected areas. Furthermore, Southern ground hornbills face persecution due to behaviors like destroying windows in response to seeing their reflection. Annoyed homeowners in urban areas in South Africa have been known to kill birds that destroy property. Southern ground hornbills are especially threatened by the loss of trees and general habitat loss, as they require vast amounts of space for their territories. The removal of large trees for agriculture or wood harvesting, disturbances near nesting grounds, agricultural changes, all deeply affect the ability of Southern ground hornbills to flourish properly. These birds are also used in traditional cultural practices and traditional medicines, which often rely upon harvesting specific parts of the bird.

Population number

According to the Wildscreen Arkive resource, there are around 1,500 Southern ground hornbills in South Africa, with about half of them living in protected national parks. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Southern ground hornbills are a culturally pervasive and important species in southern Africa. Kruger National Park, located within South Africa, lists Southern ground hornbills as one of their ‘Big Six’ bird species.
  • The Southern ground hornbill's loud voice and large size have made it a focal point in many traditional African cultures. They have inspired a variety of cultural beliefs throughout many peoples that are within its vast historical range.
  • Southern ground hornbills have long eyelashes that help keep dirt and sunlight out of their eyes.
  • Southern ground hornbills' booming calls are so loud they are sometimes mistaken for the roaring of lions.
  • The Southern ground hornbill is well known for its associations with rain, drought, lightning, and general weather forecasts. It is believed by some, such as the Ndebele (ethnic group native to South Africa) and those who live in coastal Tanzania, that its early morning calls are a sign of rain. Other cultures believe the Southern ground hornbill can be used to bring rain and end droughts.

References

1. Southern Ground Hornbill on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_ground_hornbill
2. Southern Ground Hornbill on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22682638/92955067
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/679782

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About