Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Africa: Hornbills!

As anyone knows who has seen the Lion King, Hornbills are large black and white birds with very big bills. So I was looking forward to seeing one in its natural habitat. There are actually 20 species of hornbills in East Africa, differing in bill color and overall coloration. However, only 10 are found in the parts of Kenya and Tanzania that I have visited.
Amazingly, as of today, I've seen 9 different Hornbills! Including 4 different species this morning.
In the dry scrub lands I've seen Yellow-billed and Red-billed Hornbills; in the more woodland areas I've seen Grey Hornbills. A particular weird one, the Ground Hornbill, which has a massive black bill and red face, feeds on the ground and is huge: over 3 feet high. It acts more like a turkey than a hornbill.
But one of the highlights of Africa was seeing the Black-and-white casqued Hornbills. This moist forest bird has a huge extension or casque on its bill. Its large 3 foot wings are half black and half white, which when it flies makes a whirring sound like a jet engine. Finally it has a very loud and raucous call. Overall it is unmistakable. They seem to be doing well, after dawn while waiting for breakfast at the Rondo Retreat in Kagamega forest, I counted 132 fly over the lodge, each one calling and sounding like a plane!

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