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Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
(Northern Hornbill) Bucorvus abyssinicus

WILD STATUS
Vulnerable

DISTRIBUTION

Southern Mauritania and Guinea, east to Ethiopia, N.W. Somalia, N.E. Kenya and Uganda

SIZE
Weight 3.6-4.5kg (8-10 lbs)

HABITAT
Savannah and sub-desert scrub
 
REPRODUCTION
1 to 2 eggs laid 3-5 days apart. Incubation is done by the female and takes 37-41 days. Hatchlings are fed in the nest by the male

DIET
Mainly small mammals, lizards, amphibians, birds, tortoises, spiders and insects. Hornbill also eats carrion, fruit and seeds
 
INTERESTING TIDBITS
  • Abyssinian Ground Hornbills are the second largest of the hornbill species.
  • Eyelashes are unusually long to protect their eyes from sand, etc.
  • They live up to 40 years.
  • The horn or casque is composed of keratin, the same substance as our hair and fingernails. It functions to communicate age to other hornbills, helps to reinforce the beak and helps to resonate vocalizations.
  • Will often see birds carrying various materials in their beaks. These are nest offerings.
  • Protected as a totem bird in some areas.
  • Often killed and the mounted head is used as a hunting disguise in parts of Nigeria, Cameroon and Sudan.
  • In Gambia, the local villagers will chase these birds as they are considered to bring bad luck if they are not seen in flight.
HABITAT RANGE
abyssinian_hornbill_map.gif 
 ANIMAL FACT SHEET
 To download the information from this page and receive a full page photo of the abyssinian ground hornbill  click here for a PDF

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