male, as told by large red gular pouch (South Africa; 2007-06-30)


Southern Ground Hornbill
Bucorvus leadbeateri

Native Range: Africa

Notes: ground hornbills (of which only two species comprise the family) are huge ground-dwelling hornbills nearly the size of a turkey; they walk through dry savannas and lightly forested areas looking for prey such as lizards and other small animals; modest sexual dimorphism with the male showing a large red gular pouch whereas the female's gular area is smaller and shows more blue; these birds usually are seen in pairs or small groups.


also has red patch around eye; big decurved bill (South Africa; 2007-06-30)

large-bodied and mostly black-plumaged overall (South Africa; 2007-06-30)

head portrait (Zoo; 2011-12-21)

body portrait (Zoo; 2011-12-21)

side view(Zoo; 2011-12-21)

frontal view (Zoo; 2011-12-21)

offering the cameraman a prize (Zoo; 2011-12-21)

what a handsome fellow (Zoo; 2011-12-21)

picking in the dirt (Zoo; 2011-12-21)

juvenile; lacks the bright head ornamentation (Zoo; 2012-09-19)