The great hornbill is a large bird found in the tropical forests of Asia. Also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, this species has a large bill and a brightly coloured, horny growth known as a casque.
The concave-casqued hornbill feeds mostly on fruit but it will also occasionally eat reptiles, insects and small mammals.
Hornbills are famous for their nesting behaviour. Once courtship and mating are over, the female finds a tree hollow and seals herself in with mud. The male helps with nest construction by gathering materials from the surrounding forest. Once sealed in the hollow the female's only access to the outside world is through a small slit in the mud. The male is responsible for feeding her and the young while she is in the nest. If the male is captured or killed before the female emerges she will starve to death. |
