A photo of a Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri), male
Southern Ground Hornbill, Male

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

The southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri; formerly known as Bucorvus cafer) is one of two species of ground hornbill, both of which are found solely within Africa, and is the largest species in the hornbill order 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 is the Abyssinian ground hornbill, B. abyssinicus. Southern ground hornbills are carnivorous and hunt mostly on the ground. Their 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: 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 as ‘Endangered’ in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.
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Southern Ground Hornbills on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A photo of a Southern Ground Hornbill photographed in  Botswana
🦉
Raymond Becker
Friday 17 Mar 2023 - 5:17pm
Botswana
A photo of a Southern Ground Hornbill photographed in Satara Reception South Africa
🐘
Marise Keyser
Sunday 12 Mar 2023 - 8:47am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🍄
Alistair Dyason
Friday 10 Mar 2023 - 4:20pm
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🐧
Lauren Joubert
Friday 10 Mar 2023 - 2:40pm
South Africa
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