inspiration
Bucorvus leadbeateri Class: Aves. Order: Bucerotiformes. Family: Bucorvidae.
Movement: Mostly terrestrial. Forages in groups, combing the bush for food. Can fly but non-migratory. Diet: Mostly carnivorous. Uses bill to dig and kill prey (invertebrates, reptiles, rodents, and amphibians). Has been known to eat tortoises, hares, and snakes. Life cycle: 30–50 years in the wild, up to 70 in captivity. Matures around 8 years. Juveniles dependent for 2–3 years and 70% of chicks don’t make adulthood. Reproduction: Slow and infrequent. Females lay 1–2 eggs every 3–9 years when wet season starts. 40–45-day incubation period. Siblicide common as the older chick outcompetes the younger for food. Builds nests in tree cavities above ground. Predators: Few, barring leopards and crocodiles, and humans. Apex. Conservation status: Listed as vulnerable globally. Endangered across southernmost Africa. Many conservation initiatives in place.
Description: Largest hornbill species. Average length, 90–130 cm. Weight, 3.5–5 kg. Wingspan, 1.2–1.8 m. Long legs and toes. Sharp bill with low ridge at base, which amplifies calls. Red face. Black plumage. White wing tips. Pale-yellow eyes. Females’ wattle marked with a dark purple-blue patch. Juvenile plumage is greyish-brown. Habitat and distribution: Grassland and savannah biomes across eastern and central Sub-Saharan Africa. Prefers large trees for nesting and open ground for foraging. Occupies ranges of about 100–250 km². Sociability: Cooperative breeder. Lives in groups of 2–11: dominant breeding pair and younger, mostly males, who defend territory and help raise young. Often forms feeding groups with species like baboons and impala.
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