The Abyssinian ground hornbill or Northern ground hornbill “Bucorvus abyssinicus” is an African bird, found north of the equator and is one of two species of ground hornbill spotted while on Uganda birding safaris. The other is slightly larger Southern ground hornbills found during Africa birding tours.

The Abyssinian ground hornbill is found in Northern sub-Saharan Africa from Southern Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea east to Eritrea, Ethiopia, North Western Somalia, North Western Kenya and Uganda on birding tours in Africa/birding in Uganda.

It is found in open habitats such as Savannah, sub desert scrub and rocky areas, preferring short vegetation which enables its visual foraging technique.

The areas which are inhabited by this species are usually driver areas than the preferred habitat of the Southern ground hornbill.

Physical description of Abyssinian Ground Hornbill

Abyssinian Ground Hornbill is a large, terrestrial hornbill with black body feathers and white primary feathers which are visible inflight. The adult male has a Patch of bare blue skin around the eye and an inflatable patch of bare skin on the neck and throat which is red, apart from the upper throat which is blue.

The bill is long and black except for a reddish patch at the base of mandible. Juvenile birds are dark sooty-brown with a smaller bill, with an incipient casque “helmet”

As the juvenile matures, which usually take 3 years; it gradually develops the plumage, bare skin and casque of the adults. Its total length is 90 to 110cm.

It has long feathers that look like eyelashes that surround its eyes which protects the eyes from injury.The averages around 90 to 100cm (35 to 39 in) tall, around 110cm (43in) and weighs approximately 4kg.

Behaviour of the Ground hornbill

Abyssinian ground hornbills live in open grassland, in pairs or small family parties. They patrol their territory by walking and are reluctant fliers, usually only taking to the air when alarmed. In captivity, they have a life span of 35-40 years.

This bird species feeds on a wide variety of small vertebrates, including tortoises, lizards, snakes, beetles, and caterpillars. They also feed on some fruits and ground nuts.

The groups of Ground hornbills have territories of 2-100 square miles (5.2-256 km).

Breeding and Reproduction process of the Abysinian Ground Hornbill

The breeding season of the ground hornbill varies across its range, the West African population breed in June to August; Nigerian and Ugandan populations breed in January and Kenyan birds breed in November.

It prefers tonest in large trees, with baobabs and palm stumps being preferred and the nest is constructed in a cavity.

In ground hornbills, the females are partially sealed in using a mixture of mud and vegetation. In other hornbills, the nesting female moults theirall flight feathers at once but this is not case in the Abyssinian ground hornbills.

The male prepare the nest by lining the cavity with dry leaves before the female enters and lays a clutch of one or two eggs over around 5 days. Female hornbill starts to incubate as soon as the first egg is laid so that the chick which hatches first has a head start in development over its sibling.