Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Ground Hornbill
Bucorvus leadbeateri
Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 3.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Bucerotiformes
- Family Bucerotidae Hornbills
- Genus Bucorvus
- Species leadbeateri
Where it lives
Kenya and Tanzania to central Angola, northern Botswana and eastern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.7 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Ground Hornbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Southern Ground Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) belongs to the Bucerotidae family of the order Bucerotiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Kenya and Tanzania to c Angola, n Botswana and e South Africa.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.7 kg, with a wing length of about 53.5 cm and a tail of around 32 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Ground Hornbill?
The Southern Ground Hornbill is a very large bird that weighs around 3.7 kg.
Where does the Southern Ground Hornbill live?
The Southern Ground Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF Kenya and Tanzania to c Angola, n Botswana and e South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Southern Ground Hornbill belong to?
The Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Southern Ground Hornbill eat?
The Southern Ground Hornbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Southern Ground Hornbill migrate?
The Southern Ground Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Ground Hornbill endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Southern Ground Hornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Ground Hornbill — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Ground Hornbill's range?
The Southern Ground Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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