HORNBILL

HORNBILL


The Hornbills (Buceros bicornis) are a family of bird found in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia. They are characterized by a long, down-curved beak which is frequently brightly coloured and sometimes has a casque on the upper mandible. Its impressive size and colour have made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The great hornbill is long-lived and is predominantly frugivorous but is an opportunist and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds.

The most prominent feature of the hornbill is the bright yellow and black casque on top of its massive bill. The casque appears U-shaped when viewed from the front and the top is concave, with two ridges along the sides that form points in the front. The back of the casque is reddish in females, while the underside of the front and back of the casque is black in males.

The wing beats are heavy and the sound produced by birds in flight can be heard from a distance. This sound has been likened to the puffing of a steam locomotive starting up. The flight involves stiff flaps followed by glides with the fingers splayed and upcurled. They sometimes fly at great height over forests.


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