Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill - Birds In South Africa

Despite being an overcast, drizzling day, time to be out finding birds in the area. Recent trip up to St Lucia when it rained heavily for two days on the trot, filling up local water supply even causing some flooding damage.

Let's think about this we are relatively big, getting wet from time to time does not stop us from getting out there, finding a place to perch keeping an eye on the ground for food everyday!

Cluck cluck clucking sounds eminate from one to call another, swooping in at 48-60 cm in length and weighing in between 132-242g, not the biggest bird in town, not the smallest either.

Now looking regal from above here are some facts on this bird of South Africa, flying banana's with their awesomely large yellow bills, Curved similar to a banana you can relate to this birds nick-name.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is widespread across South Africa with a large range of habitats from semi-arid savannas, broadleaved woodland and thornveld to riverine woodland.

Feeding mainly on the ground foraging for seeds, insects, spiders and scorpions, swallowing their prey whole. Known to forage with Dwarf-mongoose, team work, one shovelling the ground for their food while the other keeps a lookout for any birds of prey/raptors in the air.

Huge big beaks help regulate heat for this bird, on-board cooling system. Nesting takes place in trees offering cracks or holes, cemented together with syliva and mud, along with grass, preferably high off the ground.

Glancing into another direction possibly hearing a call to start moving along for hunting food on the day, grand view from on high!

Moving along a couple of foot away some little birds must have enjoyed a dry night in cozy nests, finding pools in the road to take a morning bath, we leave enjoying another day outing of seeing birds singing their songs of joy, where I hope I leave you today.