The southern yellow hornbill lives in southern Africa from Namibia in the west to Mozambique in the east. I photographed this one in Botswana. They are large birds and spend most of their waking hours on the ground, foraging for insects. At night, they find a spot high in a tree to stay away from any would-be predators. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
Fabulous! The detail even shows the wear and tear on his enormous beak. These guys really are large birds, and look stately and ungainly all at once. No wonder Disney picked this bird to be Zazu in the Lion King.
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The southern yellow hornbill lives in southern Africa from Namibia in the west to Mozambique in the east. I photographed this one in Botswana. They are large birds and spend most of their waking hours on the ground, foraging for insects. At night, they find a spot high in a tree to stay away from any would-be predators. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
What a marvelous close up view of that bird’s head!
Thanks Sue. Was able to get nice and detailed on this one.
This bird is the much less successful, much more resentful brother of Toucan Sam, from the Froot Loops commercials.
Beautiful. Oftentimes a washed out sky brings out the details of the subject. That beak looks like it’s seen a lot of action!
Thanks Rachel. Yes, I agree. Usually I’m cursing the blown out skies, but in some instances a nice hi-key, blown out background works with the image.
Fabulous! The detail even shows the wear and tear on his enormous beak. These guys really are large birds, and look stately and ungainly all at once. No wonder Disney picked this bird to be Zazu in the Lion King.