Hornbill

1 Jan 2022

Here is one of the most recognisable creatures in the avian world: the hornbill, so named for the distinctive horns or ‘casques’ on top of the bill. The casque signifies sexual maturity, provides support to the bill and acts to amplify sound by allowing their calls to resonate.

All species are omnivorous, eating fruit, insects and small animals. Their tongues are short, so they jerk their heads and use these beautiful bills to toss food back to their throats. Hornbills display interesting breeding behaviour, when it is time to lay eggs the female enters an enclosed nest cavity which the breeding pair then seal up with mud, leaving only one small gap. It is likely this is done to deter predators, and perhaps rival hornbills. The gap is left just wide enough for the male, using his versatile bill, to pass food in to the female and their chicks when they hatch.