ABYSSINIAN GROUND HORNBILL wrassling a rubber coral snake Bucorvus abyssinicus ©Laura Quick The Abyssinian ground hornbill or northern ground hornbill is an African bird, found north of the equator, and is one of two species of ground hornbill. The two are the largest species of hornbills found in Africa. The Abyssinian ground hornbill has long feathers that look like eyelashes that surround its eyes. These protect the eyes from injury, and blowing dust or sand. In captivity, they can live up to 35–40 years. Diet in the wild consists of a wide variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates, including tortoises, lizards, snakes, birds, spiders, beetles, and caterpillars; they also take carrion, some fruits, seeds, and groundnuts. It is currently thought that the ground hornbills, are almost exclusively carnivorous and lack the gular pouch that allows other, less closely related hornbills to store fruit. Groups of ground hornbills have territories of 2–100 square miles (5.2–259.0 km2). They are diurnal. Abyssinian ground hornbills invest a lot in their offspring and the fledged juveniles will remain with their parents for up to three years. They have a slow breeding rate and an average of one chick is raised to adulthood every 9 years so the adults' investment in each young bird raised is exceptionally high. #abyssiniangroundhornbill #hornbill #bucorvusabyssinicus #©lauraquick #bird #animal #birdsofinstagram #snakekiller #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens #lazoo #losangeleszoo #glaza #africa #northofequator #bucerotiformes #bucorvidae https://www.instagram.com/p/B8u-ak2nKqq/?igshid=cxfrlk8rial5
