The Great Hornbill is a large species of hornbill found in parts of west India and southeast Asia. The live in forest habitats where they feed primarily on fruits, especially figs.
Great Hornbills have massive yellow beaks topped with large black and yellow casques. They are social birds, usually found in groups of up to 40 birds during the breeding season. Larger groups of up to 200 birds may be found outside the breeding season.
Like other hornbill species, the Great Hornbill has a special way of nesting. The nest cavity hole is sealed with the female inside, where she remains during incubation and much of the rearing process. Once the chicks reach a certain size, the mother hornbill breaks out. The chicks remain inside to continue growing.
The Great Hornbill has a conservation status of Near Threatened. The threats it faces include loss of habitat due to logging and hunting.
In the fascinating world of birds, some species have developed unique adaptations that set them apart from others. One such distinctive feature is the casque. The casque is an enlargement of bones found on the upper beaks and/or heads of certain bird species, typically serving various functions, from... Read more »
Hornbills are fascinating birds, known for their distinctive bills and other unique characteristics. There are about 55 extant species of Hornbill Bucerotidae in the world. Here are some interesting facts about the family, and about some of the individual species: Old World Birds Hornbill species are found in sub-Saharan Read more »
