The Southern yellow-billed hornbill is near-endemic to
southern Africa, with small populations in southern Angola, southern Zambia and
southern Malawi, occurring in dry, open Acaciaand broad-leaved savannas.
It eats a wide range of animals and plant products, mainly foraging on the
ground, looking for small animals, fallen fruit and seeds. It nests in natural
tree holes 0.75-12 m above ground, the female closing the entrance with her own
faeces. It lays 2-6, usually 3-4 eggs which are incubated by the female for
roughly 24 days, while the male feeds her through the entrance hole. The chicks
stay in the nest for 42-47 days, remaining near the nest for a few more days
before joining their parents in foraging trips.
Distribution and habitat
Near-endemic to
southern Africa, with small populations in southern Angola, southern Zambia and
southern Malawi. In southern Africa it is common in Botswana, northern Namibia,
Zimbabwe, Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa. It generally prefers dry, open Acaciaand broad-leaved savannas, but it also occurs in many wooded
vegetation types, provided they have sparse ground cover.
It eats a wide range of animals and
plant products, doing most of its foraging on the ground, chasing after small
animals and picking up fallen fruit. It also hawks flying insects and digs for
insects, although infrequently and usually in the dry season. The following food
items have been recorded in its diet:
It nests in natural tree holes up to about 12 m
above ground, lining the chamber with dry leaves and small bark flakes. The
entrance is sealed by the female from the inside with her own faeces, leaving a vertical
slit 5-15 mm wide.
Egg-laying season always follows good rains, usually peaking from
September-October.
It lays 2-6, usually 3-4 eggs which are incubated by the female for
roughly 24 days; the male feeds the female through the narrow slit.
The chicks stay in the nest for 42-47 days, remaining near the nest for
a few more days before joining their parents in foraging trips. When the
oldest chick is 19-27 days old the female
leaves the nest for the first time since laying the eggs.
Threats
Not threatened, in fact widespread and common.
References
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Roberts
- Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker
Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
