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Southern or African ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri is one of two ground hornbills. The other being the Northern Ground Hornbill or Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus
The ground hornbills are the only ground dwellers among hornbills. The large bill characteristic of the Bucerotidae family may be why hornbills are the only birds with the first two neck vertebrae (axis and atlas) fused together.
Hornbills are notable for their long eyelashes and rather stubby legs and toes, with broad soles and the bases of the three front toes partly fused.
The African Ground hornbill's throat skin is inflatable, and sometimes inflates when it makes its guttural call.
In South Africa there has been a large decline in their numbers for a number of reasons. They are popular to use as "muti" or tribal medicine among some of the indigenous people of South Africa. The brain of a ground hornbill, if kept in a village, is reputed to bring the village luck. Irate homeowners kill them because they will attack windows, breaking them, if they encounter their reflections. They are also vulnerable to picking up poison baits that are set out for predators.
The Masai believe that the African ground hornbill should never be killed because it will bring bad luck. If one lands on the roof of a house, the occupants must move at once or they believe death will ensue.
Aside from many indigenous tribes in South Africa using the ground hornbill for "muti" (tribal medicine), there are others in Africa who believe that the African ground hornbill is a rain prophet.

The first three photos were taken at Discovery Cove. The last three at the Honolulu Zoo.

Southern Ground Hornbill

Hornbill Southern Ground 2032

Hornbill Southern Ground 3905

Hornbill Southern Ground 2044

African Ground Hornbill 194 4646

African Ground Hornbill 4646

African Ground Hornbill 4651

Range