Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill - Birds In South Africa
Despite being an overcast, drizzling day, time to be out finding birds in the area. Recent trip up to St Lucia when it rained heavily for two days on the trot, filling up local water supply even causing some flooding damage.
Let's think about this we are relatively big, getting wet from time to time does not stop us from getting out there, finding a place to perch keeping an eye on the ground for food everyday!
Cluck cluck clucking sounds eminate from one to call another, swooping in at 48-60 cm in length and weighing in between 132-242g, not the biggest bird in town, not the smallest either.
Now looking regal from above here are some facts on this bird of South Africa, flying banana's with their awesomely large yellow bills, Curved similar to a banana you can relate to this birds nick-name.
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is widespread across South Africa with a large range of habitats from semi-arid savannas, broadleaved woodland and thornveld to riverine woodland.
Feeding mainly on the ground foraging for seeds, insects, spiders and scorpions, swallowing their prey whole. Known to forage with Dwarf-mongoose, team work, one shovelling the ground for their food while the other keeps a lookout for any birds of prey/raptors in the air.
Huge big beaks help regulate heat for this bird, on-board cooling system. Nesting takes place in trees offering cracks or holes, cemented together with syliva and mud, along with grass, preferably high off the ground.
Glancing into another direction possibly hearing a call to start moving along for hunting food on the day, grand view from on high!
Moving along a couple of foot away some little birds must have enjoyed a dry night in cozy nests, finding pools in the road to take a morning bath, we leave enjoying another day outing of seeing birds singing their songs of joy, where I hope I leave you today.
Thought for today: The young bird does not crow until it hears the old ones. — Tswana proverb
All photography is my own for Animal Sunday contest with @homeartpictures
Previous articles on this region: (These articles are older than 7 days please do not upvote and waste your voting power)
https://steemit.com/nature/@joanstewart/eden-igwalagwala-forest-trail
https://steemit.com/animals/@joanstewart/exploring-the-effects-of-drought-in-isimangaliso-wetland-park-and-hluhluwe-game-park
https://steemit.com/treetuesday/@joanstewart/tree-tuesday-cape-ash-tree-aerial-boardwalk-by-joanstewart
https://steemit.com/beachwednesday/@joanstewart/beachwednesday-on-the-wildside-st-lucia-south-africa
https://steemit.com/animalsunday/@joanstewart/why-buffalo-is-one-of-the-big-five
https://steemit.com/macrophotography/@joanstewart/up-close-and-personal-nature-photography
https://steemit.com/animalsunday/@joanstewart/animalsunday-by-homeartpictures-small-to-medium-sized-wild-african-cats
https://steemit.com/animalsunday/@joanstewart/animal-sunday-5-animals-born-free-living-free
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I'd like to experience how to fly like the birds.
Would be a treat @tombramycin
That's very informative post. It reminds me when I was in grades school were our professor asked what animals we wanted to be and I choose bird so I can go wherever I place to go
Unusual to decide to be a bird, have you traveled much yet?
Not that much .I mean I've been in Norway and work there for 2 years . I just really wanted to travel for some countries but need to save money for that 😊
Norway is a beautiful part of the world, thoroughly enjoyed going up North so different to Africa in contrasting nature and way of life, good luck with saving and traveling in the future.
Good shots. Cool proverb.
Proverbs are fun way in learning life, thanks for visiting @abbiephoto
What a great look at a really exotic birdie to me. I'll be out looking for migrants in a couple of weeks, and I KNOW I'll see Pelicans. I'm guessing 3 kinds of Egret, too.
Thanks for showing this elegant bird!
Must be fun being on a large migratory path of birds, witnessing them moving @bigtom13
An excellent post Lady Joan and I met the Hornbills a long time ago when we worked on the Eskom towers near Empangeni. Beautiful birds! Blessings!
Found is fascinating to learn how they work with the dwarf-mongoose on scratching the earth up, the other acting as lookout, then sharing the find. Have a wonderful new week Stephen.
I like it
I like all animals @wales
What an interesting bird! We don’t have anything like that here in Sweden.
Bird life up North very different to what we see, I would love to see the owls in your region.
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Lovely photos and what an impressive bird. That beak makes them standout that's for sure.
Cute and noisy, no you don't miss them when they are in the area.
Now that's not a view you see everyday in my area, i love your shots thanks for sharing
Regional birds, thanks for your lovely comment.
What beautiful photos. We don't have a bird like that native to where I live so it's interesting to see other people's photos of such creatures. Thank you for sharing the information and the pictures :D
One of the passions is finding out about what animals live in each region, thanks for visiting.
Their cousins in malaysia look like this , it is a protected species back home
Very pretty as well @asianetwork thanks for sharing.
Creatures that make the world beautiful
They sure do @maonx
he is so big, but the branches are not being bent~~
Never thought about the larger birds landing on branches not holding their weight @cloudblade
Nice to know about south African birds.
Great Hornbill is my state Kerala's official bird.
Very interesting bird, with lovely colour in wings and on bill @dhaneshpk
nice bird.
WOW! If we had Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills around here, that may discourage our cat from chasing birds
You brought a smile to my face right there @socialmediaseo I have heard of a small dog being lifted by a raptor locally, imagine the cat clawing it's way all the way up.
BTW the raptor only went a couple of foot and the dog was fine just very shocked!
What a big bird with a beautiful beak. This is the first time I have seen this kind of bird. How I'd love to experience to go birding in your country if given the chance to visit.
Big country with different birds throughout, if you love birding be sure to visit!
Your photos always make me feel as if I was there too. Thank you @joanstewart.
From @kryptonia
Thanks for visiting, definitely a place to come visit one day Reon.
It's awesome to be able to capture these shots of hornbills in their native habitat! I've only been able to see them in the zoo! Great photo despite the weather!
These were the first rains after a very dry spell, we never complained being locked indoors for two days. Getting out was great, everything came to life again!
nice my friends jos3leonardojose
es un ave grande y muy liviana, por su tipo de pico debe emitir un sonido bastante grave, espectacular especie.
Silencio ruidoso en el arbusto silencioso @reyos
Google translator used.
Great looking big bird. Also love looking at birds taking baths. I keep a bird bath full of water so I can see them taking the bath.
Bird feeder and water feature in our garden the birds are always close, seeing the bigger birds when traveling always delightful to try capture with the lens.
Birds are really dope animals because they have very sharp eyes and can easily sight their prey I watch a lot of documentaries about them so you can easily relate what I mean
These are very clever working with mongoose to find food.
Wow! Beautiful shots and beautiful bird!
Thanks for kind comments.
Wow i like the nature and most all the animals : how happy the birds playing freely , eating freely with thier own chioce but fortunately not all the of them are free sadly to say.
Agree, a caged bird is doomed I prefer them to be free as intended.
Some great birds photos. i know how it is hard to catch a moment as they can start moving any minute.
Always a little bit of luck on the day.
Really good shots of the banana shaped bill of this southern yellow-billed Hornbill.
Loved the nickname they have been given, it fits!
the bird look like parrot I love it
Sometimes we over look the beauty of the small beautiful creatures
Each and every one is important to keep our world in balance.
Finding a hornbill is very difficult in our city area but it is common in dense forest areas where they get enough wild fruits. Nice post.
Only ever seen them outside of areas where people live.
Hi there @joanstewart wow it is pretty cool how you managed to catch pictures of the hornbill. Indeed it is a majestic bird! We have the rhinoceros hornbill here in Malaysia and it is a really beautiful bird indeed. We have a bird park here in KL and recently I brought my kiddos there and we got up close and personal with the rhinoceros hornbill! It was eating a mouse...eek! Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Seeing a hornbill eating it's meal must have been so educational for the children, well done for taking them to learn about animals.
Wow, really cool post! I love hornbills! Was lucky enough to spot 2 different species when I was in Malaysia... they are incredible!