Southern Ground Hornbill
Bucorvus leadbeateri
- Length
- 90–129 cm
- Family
- Hornbills (Bucorvidae)
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
Overview
The southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) 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.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Reptiles, frogs, insects and small mammals.
How to identify it
- Turkey-sized black hornbill that walks on the ground
- Bare red face and throat (females have a violet-blue throat patch)
- White primaries show in flight
Voice
Deep booming calls at dawn, audible for kilometres.
Where to see it
- Kruger, South Africa
Destination guides featuring this bird
Range and habitat
Savanna of eastern and southern Africa.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Southern ground hornbill
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
