Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri Scientific name definitions

90–100 cm; male 3459–6180 g, female 2230–4580 g. Largest and heaviest hornbill species, all black with white primaries. Male has bare facial skin and inflatable throat skin bright red . Female differs in having blue patch on red throat skin. Juvenile browner than adult, with black flecks in primaries, grey sides to bill, and pale grey-brown facial skin; reaches maturity after 4–6 years, but in initial stages most closely resembles adult male.

S Kenya, and Rwanda S to SE DRCongo, Angola, N Namibia, N & E Botswana, and NE & E South Africa (S to Eastern Cape).

Inhabits woodland and savanna; also frequents grassland adjoining patches of forest, ranging up to 3000 m in E African part of range. Generally found in moister habitat than is B. abyssinicus.

Sedentary and territorial; no local movements described, except for dispersal at maturity, mainly by females.

Main diet made up of arthropods , such as grasshoppers, beetles, scorpions and termites; also, especially during dry season, insect larvae, snails, frogs and toads; sometimes larger prey, such as snakes , lizards, rats, hares, squirrels or tortoises. On occasion, feeds at carrion , taking scraps and associated insects. Fruits and seeds also recorded. Lives and hunts in groups of 2–8 members, rarely 11. Eats any small animals it can catch, and kills with pickaxe-like strikes from heavy bill. Digs in dung, ground or rotten wood. Larger prey often pursued and dismembered by several birds in the group.

A rhythmic series of low-pitched hoots “ooh...ooh...ooh-ooh” . Typically two notes followed by two or three faster notes. Pairs often call at slightly different pitch creating a duet. Also softer hoots in contact, and a deep grunt in alarm (1 Kemp, A.C. (1995). Bird Families of the World. The Hornbills: Bucerotiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Close ). May call for lengthy periods.

Lays mainly Sept–Dec. Co-operative breeder, dominant pair assisted by adult and immature helpers; defends territory. Nest in cavity , mainly in large tree or in rock face; male brings nest lining of dry leaves; entrance not sealed. Normally 2 eggs (85% of clutches), sometimes 1, rarely 3, laid at interval of 3–5 days or, rarely, up to 20 days; incubation 37–43 days, by dominant female, fed at nest by group-members; eggs hatch asynchronously, chick with pink skin that starts to turns black within 3 days; second-hatched chick starves to death within 1 week, rarely a month; chick fed c. 4–9 times daily by group-members, each carrying multiple items to nest in bill tip; fledges at c. 86 days, and remains with parental group at least until mature. One study in South Africa showed that a family group produced on average only 1 fledgling every 9 years.

VULNERABLE. Widespread and common, but sparse, with territories as small as 2–4 km² in N Zimbabwe, or up to 100 km² in NE South Africa. Occurs in several reserves and at least seven national parks. Declines recorded in areas where increases occur in human density, tree-felling and use of poisoned baits, especially in South Africa and Zimbabwe, where group size and proportion of juveniles lowest outside protected areas; estimated 70% loss of range in South Africa . Also persecuted for breaking window panes by attacking own reflection in glass, and sometimes killed as superstitious token measure against drought. Protected by tribal lore in many areas, however, and able to co-exist with various forms of agriculture. Possibility of collecting second-hatched chicks for reintroduction programmes being investigated.