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Southern Ground Hornbill


Southern Ground Hornbill
Photo Information
Copyright: Lenka Gondova (lgfoto) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 194 W: 13 N: 279] (1536)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, Canon 400 5.6L
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Tanzania 2008
Date Submitted: 2008-03-15 14:25
Viewed: 816
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Southern Ground Hornbill taken in Tarangire National Park

The Southern Ground Hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri or cafer, is one of two species of ground-hornbill and is the largest species of hornbill.

It is a large bird, at 90 to 129 cm (36 to 51 in) long and a weight of 3.2 to 6.2 kg (7 to 13.6 lbs). It is characterized by black coloration and vivid red patches of bare skin on the face and throat (yellow in juvenile birds). The white tips of the wings (primary feathers) seen in flight are another diagnostic characteristic. The beak is black, straight and presents a casque, more developed in males. Female Southern Ground Hornbills are smaller and have violet-blue skin on their throats.

Its habitat comprises savannahs, woodlands and grasslands. It can be found from northern Namibia and Angola to northern South Africa to Burundi and Kenya. The Southern Ground Hornbill is a vulnerable species, mainly confined to national reserves and national parks. They live in groups of 5 to 10 individuals including adults and juveniles. Often, neighbouring groups are engaged in aerial pursuits. They forage on the ground, where they feed on reptiles, frogs, snails, insects and mammals up to the size of hares. Juveniles are dependent on adults for 6 to 12 months.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park covers 2600 sq km of grassland and floodplains, and a large proportion of tall acacia woodland just south of the large open grass plains of southern Maasailand. Tarangire is beautifully unspoilt, and safari drives through the park enjoy wide views to distant variously purpled formations of volcanic mountain ranges.
vanderschelden, jusninasirun, waylim has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Lenka,
They adore snakes:-)
You photographed this male very well; I thinlk it is a male as the female got an orange color instead of red or is it vice versa.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hello Lenka. excellent mugshot with vivid colorful details. The eyelid details is amazing for a bird. Regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 451 W: 0 N: 975] (8383)
  • [2008-03-16 3:40]

Hi Lenka,

Great shot of this typical bird. I like the noise these birds make!When you look at the bill of this bird you can see that this bird is looking for food in the sand and clay. Great details.

regards,
Zeno.

Lenka,
This is a very detail portriat of the hornbill. So detail, and since it's not a very pretty bird, make it not very pleasant to look at. Technically great image.
Way

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