One of the most recognizable and charismatic birds of the southern African savannas. This hornbill is a familiar and beloved sight across Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and surrounding regions. It thrives in dry open woodlands, thornveld, and scrubby savannas, often spotted striding boldly across dusty paths or perched in acacia trees, surveying its surroundings with sharp, curious eyes.
The Southern yellow-billed hornbill has striking black-and-white plumage, with a white belly, black speckled wings, and a black back flecked with white. Its face and throat are often bare, with pinkish skin showing around the eyes, giving it an expressive, sometimes comical appearance. But its most noticeable feature is the oversized, bright yellow bill, slightly curved downward, which it uses masterfully for feeding, grooming, and even fighting.
These hornbills are omnivorous opportunists, eating a wide variety of foods depending on the season. Their diet includes insects, small reptiles, seeds, berries, and fruit. They often forage on the ground, walking with a deliberate, bouncing gait as they pick up prey with their bills. During the rainy season, they feast heavily on insects like termites and beetles, while in drier periods, they switch to seeds and fruit. Their adaptable diet has made them incredibly successful across different landscapes.
Southern yellow-billed hornbills have a mutualistic relationship with dwarf mongooses! The hornbills follow the mongooses while they forage, catching insects that the little mammals flush out, while in return, hornbills help warn the mongooses of aerial predators.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
Eswatini
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
