I’m looking forward to entering the peak of the rainy season, which brings a very special sound to the African bush. Shortly after the sun rises, the air will often be filled with deep booming notes. So deep and resonating that it can sometimes take a trained ear to tell it apart from the roar of a very distant lion.
A beautiful sunrise over the African wilderness. Just like a good cup of coffee on Founders Camp deck starts your day; a sunrise is the best way to kickstart your game drive.
When it comes to waking up and setting out into the bush early, I find that always gain far more than I initially seek. This particular morning was no exception. It was still and peaceful. We decided to stop in an open clearing where herds of impala surrounded us, with elephants feeding in the distance. With the vehicle’s engine off, we tee’d ourselves up perfectly to listen to the sounds of our surroundings. Especially, any animal alarm calls or perhaps even the rasping of the leopard we were searching for. We sat for a while enjoying the scene. Then suddenly, we heard faint booming notes.
A herd of elephants move along the edge of the clearing, feeding as they go.
The booming sound we heard was the duet between a male and female Southern Ground Hornbill, advertising their territory. The last thing my guests were thinking was that this sound was being made by a bird. My good friend and tracker Terrence, assured everyone that I had identified the sound correctly. On a quiet morning like this one, their call can be heard up to almost 2.5 miles away as it rumbles through the bush. With that being said, you’ve got a good chance of hearing them if they are in the area.
A sub-adult male on the left and an adult male on the right. Perched up high on the branches of a dead leadwood tree. Leadwood’s sometimes offer large natural cavities in their trunks – a prime location for the breeding pair to rear their next chick.
Southern Ground Hornbills have very large territories, and different family groups will proclaim their territories each morning. This ensures the surrounding groups will be aware of each other’s presence. In order for their call to be the most effective and travel large distances, I’ve seen them perform this booming call mostly from an elevated position. This is to avoid the sound being muffled out by trees or vegetation, helping it to have a further reach.
Here a portion of the group forages through the lush green grass after the first rains. In summer, there is an extremely rich variety of insect life on the reserve. Their diet is mostly insect-based during these rainy months.
They create their booming call through the ability to inflate a sack-like chamber in their red wattle that covers their throat. The sound then reverberates through this sack, which enhances it. They also have a special chamber on their upper bill in order to amplify the sound. The male has a larger chamber, and this is why you will often hear the two different pitches in a morning duet, with the male’s being deeper in tone.
Here you can see the special chamber on the upper bill and the inflatable sack below the lower bill.
They are unmistakable in appearance, standing over a metre high when fully grown and weighing up to 5kg. They are the largest hornbill species in the world.
In many African cultures, it is believed that these birds are associated with the coming of the rains and thunder. Hence they are often referred to as the Thunderbird.
It was needless to say that later that day, we were caught in a torrential downpour accompanied by thunder rumbling in the distance. Whether or not they do actually bring the rain or because the rainy season coincides with their breeding season (which is when they are most vocal and territorial), will remain anyone’s guess. Whatever the belief is, these birds carry with them a great sense of veneration. Their call does stir some great imagery and emotion. It is for that reason that they are certainly right up there with my favourite birds found on the reserve.
A storm approaching in the distance. Whether induced by the call of the Thunderbird or not, it was a fitting end to yet another special day in the African bush.
Every opportunity to spot these birds in the wild should be deeply cherished. Seeing them is never taken for granted.
Matt, thank you for sharing your knowledge of the Hornbill species. The southern ground hornbill family is very unique. Thunderbird seems to be a name which comes from the history of the native populations over the millennia .
Thanks William, and only a pleasure! They are incredibly special birds indeed. They do have a few other names but thunderbird suites them best I think!
I love these ground hornbills. They are really very special birds.
Thanks for the beautiful pictures and the good article of and on them.
Thanks a lot Christa, I really appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Matt! These birds are indeed iconic. I notice the middle one in the pic with the three birds has spots on the wattle. Any idea what that might be?
Hey there Irene! That is a female and those spots are simply a bit of the blue colouration that the females have on their bare throat skin. The extent of the blue is quite variable – sometimes even males will have small blue spots on their throat.
OK! Never knew that, thank you!
Interesting post with great photos. I was especially surprised to learn about the size of these birds!
Hi Marcia, yes they are very large. They are formidable predators to anything smaller than themselves!
Hi Matt, these birds are huge in stature and have a deep call. We have seen them a few times in the Kruger Park walking and forreging. Now looking properly at their bill and the red wattle, makes perfect sense how the call vibrates. Beautiful pic of the elephants grazing in the background with the impala in the front. Almost looks peaceful, and at the same time buzy.
Hi Valmai, it’s certainly very interesting how they are able to reach that deep tone. Next time you spot them, maybe they’ll call and you can see the bill and wattle in action!
This is lovely, Matt. Thunder and hornbills: two of my favorite beings:-)
Thanks a lot Linda, I love them both too! 🙂
Thank you Matt, I shall certainly listen for that call when we’re back at Founders in 2 weeks (all being well). Say hello to Terrence for me, and ask him if he knows he’s on my blog photo!
That’s so great to hear Suzanne. That’s a lovely picture of you 3. I’m sure Terrence will remember the day. Glad that all went well and that you made it here 🙂 see you out in the bush!
What a marvellous bird! Thank you for this very interesting blog, Matt.
Thanks so much for the kind words Barbara!
That is really interesting, as many indigenous tribes in the US also attribute rain to the Thunderbird, however it is a mythical figure in these cultures as opposed to the ground hornbill. I absolutely love the ground hornbill–they are one the most interesting birds in all of Africa!
Great blog Matt! Have to say I have always been very fond of the comical Hornbill and their stunningly long eye lashes 😊. However I have never heard their boom so hope that when I next visit the Lowveld I might be lucky enough to pick their breeding season and hear it for real. Love the name and the story behind it, given to them by an African tribe. Very apt indeed 💕
Fascinating post with great photos. I’ve seen these birds but now it will be with newly learned interest.
Matt, Thanks for the information on the the Thunder Birds! We have never heard them on our game drives, but will try to find them on our next visit to Londolozi!
Hey Matt! Good to hear from you. I’m just catching up with all the blogs. These birds are one of my favorite, as well. We saw them at least 3 times when I visited. Please give my best to Terence. How was your vacation? I really enjoyed Malelane! I stayed in wonderful place and met some really great people. I am looking at moving to South Africa. I finally saw a male lion on my 2nd to last morning. I did a bushwalk with the people who hosted me at the Airbnb. We went in Kruger. I kept a video of it.
I got to play golf at Leopard Creek. It’s the most beautiful course I’ve ever had the pleasure to play on. The tournament I wanted to see was cancelled duet to overreaction to Omicron. I didn’t run home like the rest of the tourists. So, when I did leave, I had plenty of room on my planes. Relaxing was easy.
So, I left my home in Maryland, which is on the east coast of the USA, and I now live in California. everyone knows where that is? I really enjoyed my time with you and Terence. I’ve stayed in touch with Graham and Elena. I have lost the number for Brian. If you guys have it, I’d appreciate if you would send it.
I left Africa with 134 bird species. When I return, I’ll join a group and find out more about them. It’s very difficult to get used to the many more varieties that exist there, as opposed to here. I downloaded the Roberts app to help me, but the books are better. I think the one they had at Malelane is Kerns (sp?).
Anyway, stay well and you can contact me at pjsmyther2@gmail.com. I’ll let you know when I plan to return to RSA. You and Terence stay well and keep enjoying your work!
Hey there Pat! Great to hear from you. Sounds like you had an amazing time in SA. Big news about wanting to move this side – that’s exciting to have on the cards for the future! Terrence and I had a great time with you and would love to have you back on board with us. I’ll get in touch with you via email Pat. Keep well and take care of yourself.
This hornbill is my favorite, and thanks for the added information Matt!
It’s a pleasure Paul! Glad you found it interesting.