The hornbill swerves away, turning towards his calling mate, his wingbeats stretching towards the skyline.

He had been sitting on the bare ground near the termite mound for a little while. His head turned occasionally, observing any movement nearby. The red-billed hornbill was a master of his craft, keeping dead still and then suddenly turning in another direction. His focus was intense as he spotted and grabbed at a passing bug, swiftly tossing it in the air and then gulping it down. His manoeuvres continued, but a cry in the distance broke his concentration briefly. His head askance, he listened carefully, hearing the call of his mate. The sound was louder this time; a growling, deep 'gok' or 'rroh' could be heard from some nearby thorn bush. He turned, facing the direction, and swiftly flapped skyward in the direction of his mate.

Introducing Red-Billed Hornbills

The red-billed hornbill is a versatile bird, thriving in savannahs, woodlands, and grasslands with scattered trees. Its habitat stretches into arid regions like Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where it adapts to drier environments like thorn scrub and stony hills. Found from lowlands to elevations of 2,100 meters in Ethiopia, this bird is known for perching in trees but prefers to forage on the ground, where it sources almost all its food.

It's an adept ground-dweller, walking and running as it hunts for food. Its long bill is a valuable tool, used to dig through loose dirt and leaf-litter, and it even scavenges in dung piles left by large game animals, picking out beetles and fly larvae. This hornbill's diet includes termites, ants, grasshoppers, and various invertebrates, along with occasional vertebrate prey like small lizards, bird nestlings, and rodents. It supplements its diet with fruits and seeds.

During breeding season, red-billed hornbills are territorial, staying within their home range. They feed in the surrounding savannah in the early morning and return to a roosting tree in the evening. In the dry season, when not breeding, they become somewhat nomadic, often forming flocks to feed together. They gather at watering holes where food is plentiful, but they typically return to their territories to roost.

Feathered Friends Collection

Welcome to our feathered friends, with their flights of fancy, twitchers' delight, and the lightest touch.

Ever-present in our lives, birds fill the skies, settle in tree branches, and thrive on the ground. Their movements fill us with delight and awe; their silence is broken by delightful songs or anxious craws. This collection celebrates these moments in time with our feathered friends.