Painting by Larascouller
Meet the Ground Hornbill - not the most beautiful bird created, but a very different one, with an interesting air about him. He walks quite majestically and unthreatened by spectators - we saw one in Kruger Park and followed him for quite a while to get to know him. He stands about 80cm tall, and the contrast between his black feathers and bright red accents around his eyes etc. is very striking.
During the time we lived in Kloof, KZN, we were fortunate to have regular visits from a pair of ordinary Hornbills, a smaller and lighter coloured version of this one. They used to perch on a verandah chair and hammer at the glass sliding door with their strong beaks - we presumed that they were seeing their reflections in the glass and for some reason were pecking at them.
I put out some pieces of fruit for them and was fascinated to watch them daintily pick up the pieces with their long beaks and toss them up in the air and catch them to swallow.
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