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Animal Guide

Southern Ground Hornbill

50 destinations · 26 states

Native Range
Sub-Saharan Africa

The southern ground hornbill is a bird that looks built for walking rather than flying, and that is exactly what makes it fun to watch. It spends much of its time striding across the ground with deliberate steps, probing the soil and leaf litter with its large bill. The bright red skin around the throat and face stands out against its mostly black feathers, especially when the bird stretches its neck or calls. Groups may forage together, moving across an open habitat while searching for insects, small reptiles, frogs, and other prey. Despite their size, these hornbills can also fly, often using slow, powerful wingbeats to reach a perch or cross their territory. Their deep booming calls are another feature to listen for, particularly when several birds answer one another. Native to grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, southern ground hornbills give visitors a chance to see a large bird behaving more like a ground hunter than a typical treetop hornbill.

Southern Ground Hornbill

Where to see Southern Ground Hornbill

50 destinations across 26 states

50 destinations

Binder Park Zoo

Battle Creek, MI

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, AL

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

Alto, MI

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo

Baton Rouge, LA

Brevard Zoo

Melbourne, FL

Brights Zoo

Limestone, TN

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Dallas Zoo

Dallas, TX

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

Gladys Porter Zoo

Brownsville, TX

Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro, NC

Gulf Breeze Zoo

Gulf Breeze, FL

Hattiesburg Zoo

Hattiesburg, MS

Hemker Park & Zoo

Freeport, MN

Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu, HI

Houston Zoo

Houston, TX

Idaho Falls Zoo

Idaho Falls, ID

John Ball Zoo

Grand Rapids, MI

Jungle Island

Miami, FL

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

Lion Country Safari

Loxahatchee, FL

Metro Richmond Zoo

Moseley, VA

Miller Park Zoo

Bloomington, IL

Milwaukee County Zoo

Milwaukee, WI

North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari

Cleveland, GA

Oregon Zoo

Portland, OR

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

West Palm Beach, FL

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Potawatomi Zoo

South Bend, IN

Potter Park Zoo

Lansing, MI

Roosevelt Park Zoo

Minot, ND

Safari West

Santa Rosa, CA

San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Escondido, CA

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, CA

Staten Island Zoo

Staten Island, NY

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD

The Wild Animal Park

Chittenango, NY

Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park

Salt Lake City, UT

Tulsa Zoo

Tulsa, OK

Virginia Zoo

Norfolk, VA

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle, WA

Zoo Atlanta

Atlanta, GA

Zoo Boise

Boise, ID

Zoo Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

Zoo World Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, FL

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Tampa, FL

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