Bucorvus leadbeateri

(Vigors, 1825)

Vernacular names
English : Southern ground-hornbill
French : Bucorve du Sud

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Bucerotiformes
Family : Bucerotidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a length of 1 m for a weight of 6.1 kg. Heaviest hornbill species. Entirely black plumage with white primaries. Large black bill with small casque. Bright red naked skin around face and throat.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in the southern half of Africa, from South Kenya and Rwanda to south-east DR Congo, Angola, North Namibia, to eastern South Africa. Lives mostly in woodlands, savannas and nearby forests, up to 3000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a large range but is fairly uncommon. It occurs in many protected areas. Still suffers from hunting and habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, ESB in Europe

Observation

 

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