birdWatch

Hornbills

The bill of the hornbills is indeed unmistakeable. There are two types of hornbill. The two species of ground hornbills live in savannah country, while the other hornbills prefer more wooded country, and  live in trees. Some ornithologists put gound hornbills in a family to themselves; others in a sub-family of Bucerotidae. All the hornbills are omnivorous, though they specialise. These two birds were seen in the Maasai Mara. Because of the spread of farming, the terrain of the ground hornbills is threatened outside national parks.

The African Grey Hornbill lives in savannah and lightly wooded country, and mainly eats fruit, insects and reptiles.

The Southern Ground Hornbill searches for food on the ground, and eats reptiles, mammals and other animals that it finds. It lives in a group of up to five or so. It is between 90cm and 130cm in height (the male is bigger).

Hunting on the ground, and hiding from the midday sun in the shade of a tree.

Kenya Bird Index

Bucerotidae: Bucorvus leadbeateri (Southern Ground)

Bucerotidae: Tockus nasutus (African Grey)