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Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

Description:

. It is a medium sized bird, with length between 48 to 60 cm, characterized by a long yellow beak with a casque (casque reduced in the female). The skin around the eyes and in the malar stripe is pinkish. The related Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill from north-eastern Africa has blackish skin around the eyes. They have a white belly, grey neck, and black back with abundant white spots and stripes. They feed mainly on the ground, where they forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. Termites and ants are a preferred food source in the dry season. Females lay 3 to 4 white eggs in their nest cavities and incubate them for about 25 days. Juveniles take about 45 days to mature.

Habitat:

The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is a Hornbill found in southern Africa. This hornbill is a common, widespread resident of the dry thorn fields and broad-leafed woodlands. Frequently they can be sighted along roads.

Notes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ye...

1 Species ID Suggestions

avesjohn
avesjohn 12 years ago
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Tockus leucomelas Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill


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6 Comments

Ietermagog
Ietermagog 12 years ago

Like iiiittt! You can join Kruger Park mission at http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8322...

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Very nice pictures! Please change the name.

ShriPatwardhan
ShriPatwardhan 12 years ago

Thanks everybody.
I wish to know is there a database method where we put specific features such as in this bird as a) large yellow beak. b) long feathered tail.c)spots on the body.d) large size etc. and then shortlist the bird for identifying it. Can anyone suggest a similar method because if you do not know the bird , you don't know it and then we cannot find its details.

KatCuff
KatCuff 12 years ago

He's fantastic! Great job!

Sachin Zaveri
Sachin Zaveri 12 years ago

Beautiful spotting,
spectacular bird,

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Lovely spot!

ShriPatwardhan
Spotted by
ShriPatwardhan

Limpopo, South Africa

Spotted on May 18, 2009
Submitted on Jan 16, 2012

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