Hornbills – Birdlore

Below are Zimbabwean names for birds corresponding with those that begin with the letter ‘H’ in the English vernacular. These local bird names were obtained from personal communication with contributors, as well as reference to lists contained in Cooke (1970) and Maclean (1985). These are not exhaustive and may be subject to minor errors.

Links to further information pertaining to each group or taxa are included.

Hamerkop
Kondo – Shona (all dialects)
uThekwane – Ndebele
Sikabenge – Nambya
Masiyenuka – Venda/Sotho
Nyakhonzo; Ngondzwe; Mandonzwana – Shangaan/Tsonga
Lukonzo – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/scopus_umbretta.htm

Herons (Generic)
Svorechena – Shona (all dialects)
iTsheme – Ndebele
Rikolwa – Shangaan/Tsonga
Nchongelabaswi; Koko – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/ardeidae/index.htm

Honeyguide (Greater)
Shezhu; Mukaranga; Tsoro; Tsare – Shona (All dialects)
inSedlu – Ndebele
Mlezu; Tshetlo – Venda/Sotho
Nhlalala; Nhlampfu – Shangaan/Tsonga
Nsolo – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/indicatoridae/indicator_indicator.htm

Hoopoe (Common)
Mhupupu; Chigubhubhu; Tuvo; Gugugu – Shona (all dialects)
inVekle; iMvunduna – Ndebele
Kukuku – Venda/Sotho
Pupupu; Marimamalanga – Shangaan/Tsonga
N’angaya bayuni – baTonga

Hoopoe (Green Wood-hoopoe)
Haya – Shona (all dialects)
iNhlekabafazi, uNukani – Ndebele
Kolokolwana; Yokoywana – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/upupiformes.htm

Hornbill (Ground)
Dendera, Gahamadze, Dandila; Riti – Shona (all dialects)
iNsingizi – Ndebele
LeHututu; Hundundule – Venda/Sotho
Nghututu; Randaloa, Rhandzala – Shangaan/Tsonga
Momba – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/bucorvidae/bucorvus_leadbeateri.htm

Hornbill (Grey)
Goto; Hoto – Shona (all dialects)
Nkorho – Shangaan/Tsonga
Pilliyo – baTonga

Hornbill (Southern Yellow-billed/Red-billed)
Goto; Hoto; HotoMuthlawe; Kakamira – Shona (all dialects)
uKoro – Ndebele
Kgoropo; Ngoto – Venda/Sotho
Nkorho; Manteveni – Shangaan/Tsonga
Bangwa; Gotobusi – baTonga

Hornbill (Trumpeter)
Gakamira, Gangambudzi – Shona (all dialects)
iFlakaka – Nambya
Nkorho; Hakamila – Shangaan/Tsonga
Pongopongo – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/bucerotidae/index.htm

Additional References:

Cooke, P. (1970). Ndebele Bird Names. NADA, vol.10 (2): 67-68.

Maclean, GL. (1985). Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa (5th ed.). John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa.

In the next post I will move on to bird names beginning with the letters ‘I to K’.

The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas (pictured top) and the similar Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus (rufirostris) are common residents of bushveld areas. During the summer breeding season, local people often collect and eat females and chicks trapped within their nest holes, which the birds seal using mud and faeces. As people have observed that the female and chicks are totally reliant upon the male for food provision during much of this time, these birds are often associated with marital fidelity in local tradition. I was also able to corroborate a belief of the Ndau and Shangaan that, as these hornbills appear to have weak flight, they are at the mercy of the wind, which determines the direction that they must follow.

The Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator (pictured bottom) bears the black and white plumage and red facial skin, associated with the spirits, and as such has become another subject of local superstitious belief. This species is largely restricted to wetter forest, woodlands and riverine areas where it feeds on fruit and invertebrates. Their loud calls vary from ‘wails’ and ‘caterwauls’ to ‘screams’ and ‘brays’, leading a number of Karanga, Korekore and Nambya people to believe that this species is a powerful messenger, often foretelling the outcome of a long journey. One particular call is translated as ‘Dzoka, dzoka’ meaning ‘come back, come back’, warning would-be travellers to postpone their journey. If the bird calls vigorously or persistently and makes short flights ahead of one’s path, it is thought to indicate danger ahead, while if the bird calls only occasionally during the trip, then all is expected to be well.

Local names for the Southern Yellow-billed and Red-billed Hornbill in Zimbabwe:

Hoto, Muthlawe – Shona (all dialects)
uKoro – Ndebele
Ngoto – Sotho
Kgoropo – Venda
Korho – Shangaan
Bangwa – baTonga

Local names for the Trumpeter Hornbill in Zimbabwe:

Gakamira, Gangambudzi – Shona (all dialects)
iFlakaka – Nambya
Hakamira – Shangaan
Pongopongo – baTonga

Information for this section was obtained only from interviews with contributors.

The Marakwet people of Kenya believe that the increased calling of the Red-billed Hornbill during the summer breeding season heralds the coming of the rains.

Hornbills of various species are considered as birds of great power in West Africa, where their body parts are widely traded for bushmeat or use in concoctions that provide perceived protection against witchcraft, increase work or business success, or for other physico-medicinal purposes.

Additional Reference:

Cocker, M & Tipling, D. (2013). Birds and People, Jonathan Cape, London, England.

For more information on the species mentioned here visit:

https://ebird.org/species/sybhor1?siteLanguage=en_AU

http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/22682384

https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/srbhor1/cur/introduction

https://ebird.org/species/rebhor1?siteLanguage=en_AU

http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/22725930

https://ebird.org/species/truhor1

http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/trumpeter-hornbill-bycanistes-bucinator