Hornbills at ZSL. » London Zoo

Hornbills at ZSL.
11-07-2007

So what hornbills should I have seen at ZSL?

11-07-2007

Did you go to whipsnade?

if you did then

Black and white casqued
Tarictic
Great indian
Temminck's ( South sulawesi, sulawesi tarictic)
Abysininan ground hornbill
Malayan Black

The greats may have moved on and the black and white casqued hornbill was very old, so I wouldn't be surprised if she has died.

11-07-2007

No, only London.

I saw Malayan Black- pair in avairies near Snowdon Aviary. Showing interest in their nest box.

Also one Tarictic and one b/w Casqued(together) in avairy outside Parrot House- from Whipsnade?

11-07-2007

Also one Ground Hornbill(blue pouch- is red or blue skin a sex or subspecies difference?) in Monkey enclosure- mixed exhibit.

11-07-2007

There's also a small African savannah species in the African aviary I believe.

http://static.zsl.org/files/zsl-lond...311206-353.pdf

This lists it as a Von Der Decken's. That sounds about right.

11-07-2007

Yes that's it!! There is a small group of them in that aviary.

Did you see the female woolly necked stork?

11-07-2007

Yes, you're right. I didn't go in there but I saw one in flight from outside- the only bird in evidence... (so I didn't see any of the species labels)

11-07-2007

Nope. Can you enlighten me about the Ground Hornbills though? I've never been sure if the Blue or Red facial skin indicates the subspecies, or the sex of the bird? I'm sure you would know....

11-07-2007

Red and blue is a different subspecies, one is the northern and one is the southern...

Abyssinian Ground-hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus (also known as Northern Ground-hornbill) is the one with the blue skin and the Southern Ground-hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri is the one with the red skin.

11-07-2007

One of the male Von der Decken's Hornbills decided my sports bag would be a great nest site and spent several minutes looking for a way in. Eventually he got fed up and hopped away.

One of the other males was attempting to feed his mate. He had not quite got the hang of it. He often took food to the wrong nest box, and just as often offered the female a beak full of leaves. Obviously his first breeding attempt.

11-07-2007

Many thanks for that. years ago I somehow assumed it was a sexual difference and have never quite been able to put that idea to rest!

11-07-2007

It took me years to work out which was which with Black-footed and Humboldt's Penguins.

11-07-2007

Just in case you try it sometime, a warning that you can't possibly do Whipsnade and London together in one day( I know your above question doesn't suggest that.) but all I'm saying is you really need a whole day for Whipsnade, and at least a half day, but preferably a whole one- for London.

11-07-2007

agreed. which primate species is mixed witht he ground hornbills? does th butterfly area still exist? and are red pandas back in regents park yet?

11-07-2007

The Ground Hornbill (I only saw one) was alone in one of the inside Sobell dens.. It is mixed(?) with the Diana monkeys in the outdoor enclosure which has been completely redesigned(see above) This enclosure combines the area formerly taken up by the two old (rectangular) outdoor enclosures which were nearest to the elephant house. The Dianas use the den opposite the Gorillas, the Hornbill(s) use the one on the other side- both now access the single large outside area.

Can't answer the other two questions, I'm afraid.