Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)

Moremi Game Reserve

Okavango Delta

Botswana

Southern Africa

 

The southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is a hornbill found in southern Africa.

 

These birds are near endemic to the dry savannas of southern Africa, where they can be found across all longitudes, from Angola and Namibia in the west to Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in the east, including Botswana, Zimbabwe and northern South Africa.

 

The southern yellow-billed hornbill lives mostly in the dry, open savannas, but they are also very partial to woodlands when they can find them. When in woodlands, they seem to prefer acacia and broad leaved woodlands. The highest reported concentration of southern yellow-billed hornbill is in open mopane scrub.

 

The southern yellow-billed hornbill flies powerfully. It alternates short gliding periods with heavy wing beats. The southern yellow-billed hornbill lacks the underwing coverts which enhances the flow of air when it flies.

 

Southern yellow-billed hornbill eats mostly arthropods, particularly termites, beetles, larvae (beetles and termites), grasshoppers and caterpillars. It has also been seen eating centipedes and scorpions. They will occasionally eat small mammals when they can. To complete the diet, they will regularly eat berries, fruits, nuts and eggs from other species.

 

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