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Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

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Field Notes

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.

Species ID Suggestions

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

Comments (6)

Like iiiittt! You can join Kruger Park mission at http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8322205
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.
He's fantastic! Great job!
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 16, 2012

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