# Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (*Bucorvus abyssinicus*) The Abyssinian Ground Hornbill is a large, colorful bird that loves to walk around on the ground. They have big, bright beaks and can be very social with their friends. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Savannas ![Abyssinian Ground Hornbill](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Abyssinian_ground-hornbill_%28Bucorvus_abyssinicus%29_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abyssinian_ground-hornbill_%28Bucorvus_abyssinicus%29_female.jpg) ## Appearance The Abyssinian Ground Hornbill is a large, terrestrial bird with glossy black plumage and a striking bare blue face and throat patch. It has long, dark eyelashes and a prominent, hollow black casque atop its large beak, which is darker in males and reddish in females. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Bucerotiformes - **Family:** Bucorvidae - **Genus:** Bucorvus ## Interesting facts - Abyssinian Ground Hornbills often hunt venomous snakes and scorpions, smashing them with their beaks! - The bare skin on their face can change color, showing how excited or angry they feel! - Their loud booming calls are so deep, you might feel them vibrating through the ground! - They use their big feet to stomp the ground, flushing out hidden insects and small animals! ## Special abilities - **Mega-Shovel Beak:** Abyssinian Ground Hornbill has a powerful, dagger-like beak that helps them dig for food and even break small bones. - **Dust-Proof Eyelashes:** Abyssinian Ground Hornbill has long, feathery eyelashes that protect its eyes from dust and debris while hunting. - **Booming Voice:** Abyssinian Ground Hornbill can produce deep, booming calls that help them communicate across long distances in their savanna home. - **Built-in Drum:** The Abyssinian Ground Hornbill has a hollow casque on its beak that may amplify its calls, helping it 'drum' its message. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 90-110 cm - **Wingspan:** 120-180 cm - **Weight:** 2.5-4.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-50 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 37-41 days ## Diet & Feeding This omnivore eats mostly small animals and insects, but also fruit and seeds found on the ground. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Spiders, Scorpions, Small reptiles, Rodents, Frogs, Seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Black-necked spitting cobra (*Naja nigricollis*) — A skilled hunter of dangerous snakes and other reptiles. - **Eats:** [Desert locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-locust) (*Schistocerca gregaria*) — Helps control pest insect populations, including locust swarms. - **Eaten by:** [Nile monitor](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nile-monitor) (*Varanus niloticus*) — Eggs and chicks in ground nests can be predated by monitor lizards. - **Symbiotic with:** [Hippopotamus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hippopotamus) (*Hippopotamus amphibius*) — Sometimes follows large grazers to catch insects disturbed by their movements. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Abyssinian Ground Hornbill? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Abyssinian Ground Hornbill? 90-110 cm ### What is Abyssinian Ground Hornbill's wingspan? 120-180 cm ### How much does Abyssinian Ground Hornbill weigh? 2.5-4.5 kg ### How long does Abyssinian Ground Hornbill live? 30-50 years ### How fast can Abyssinian Ground Hornbill move? 35 km/h ### What does Abyssinian Ground Hornbill eat? This omnivore eats mostly small animals and insects, but also fruit and seeds found on the ground. ### Where is Abyssinian Ground Hornbill usually found? Savannas ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Abyssinian Ground Hornbill: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/abyssinian-ground-hornbill)