Details
Bucorvus leadbeateri
The southern ground hornbill is a large walking hornbill of southern African savannas. Black plumage, red throat skin, and ground-hunting groups make it distinctive.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits Afrotropical savanna, open woodland, grassland, and dry scrub. Landscapes need large nesting cavities in old trees, cliffs, or similar sites.
Length is 90-129 cm and weight 2.2-6.2 kg. It has black plumage, white primary feathers, a heavy bill, and bare red skin on the face and throat; females may show blue on the throat.
Diurnal birds walk in loose groups centered on a breeding pair and younger helpers. Deep calls keep group members in contact across large ranges.
A carnivore, it eats insects, frogs, snakes, lizards, small mammals, and nestling birds. It finds prey while walking and grips it with the heavy bill.
Breeding is slow and usually produces few fledged young. Helpers bring food, and large cavities may be used for long periods.
It is listed as Vulnerable. Loss of large nest trees, grassland change, and persecution contribute to declines, while slow breeding limits recovery.
