Southern Ground Hornbill

This large hornbill, more than a metre long and weighing up to 6 kg, has black plumage. Its big beak, also black, has a little casque on top. What differentiates the sexes is the large pouch of bare skin under the beak, which is plain bright red for the male while red with a blue spot in the female.

Although this bird flies well, despite its weight, it is mainly seen walking, surveying the ground in search of its prey which is varied: insects, small amphibians, reptiles and even little mammals up to the size of a rabbit.

Finally this is a hornbill-species which does not seal in its female in a tree-cavity for months! It also nests in hollow trees, but the female is free to leave during the reproduction cycle and the male participates in the incubation and feeding of the young. Living in forests and on savannahs, this large hornbill is not very widespread and lives primarily in the national parks of central South Africa (Burundi) and Southern Africa: the species is therefore classified as “Vulnerable”.