Hornbill: short description, photo

The hornbill got its name for the outstanding size of the beak. Almost all representatives of this family have a peculiar growth on it. Moreover, in different species, it may differ in size, color and shape. In many countries of Asia and Africa stamps with "nosy" birds are issued. On the flag of Chin state in Myanmar (formerly Burma), on the coat of arms of the Malaysian state of Sarawak and on the coin of Zambia, there is her image.

Common symptoms

Hornbill (photos are presented in the article) - one of the most curious, in terms of appearance, representatives of the feathered world. A variety of sizes and colors does not interfere with recognizing individuals of this family by the following signs:

large and bright beaks;
unusual outgrowth on the beak;
relatively short legs;
the head is small;
muscular long neck.

This is both a secretive and rather noisy bird. Her flight is accompanied by sounds reminiscent of the movement of a train. They fly high and very decent. They climb trees perfectly, because it is on them that they earn their own food. On earth they move hard and clumsy.

Puberty occurs approximately in 3-4, in small species in 1-2 years. Lead a sedentary lifestyle. Small representatives fly in small flocks of 20-40 individuals, large - in pairs.

The Indian hornbill is one of the largest members of the family. Height reaches 1 meter in length, wingspan is 1.5 meters. The huge beak is decorated with a bright black and yellow outgrowth.

Kinds

According to the international organization for the protection of birds and the preservation of their environment (BirdLife International), as of December 2016, there were 62 species in the world, united in 14 genera:

Bucorvus - Horned Crows. Large birds, weighing from 3 to 6 kg, throat and head without feather cover, blue or red, sometimes two-tone. A distinctive feature is that it does not block the hollow.
Rhinoplax - hat-billed. Live weight up to 3 kg, have a high growth of red color. The naked neck of males is red, the color of females is bluish-purple.
Buceros - Gomera. Weight 2-3 kg, have a very large, front bent helmet.
Ceratogymna - Helmet-bearing. Maximum weight 2 kg, stand out with a large outgrowth. The sides of the head and throat are naked, blue in color.
Rhyticeros. Large birds from 1.5 to 2.5 kg with a high volume growth.
Aceros. Up to 2.5 kg, have a poorly developed growth in the form of a small hump.
Berenicornis - white-crested. Weigh up to 1.7 kg, there is a small horny growth, the female cheeks and lower body are black, and the male is white.
Bycanistes - African. Live weight from 0.5 to 1.5 kg, with a pronounced large helmet.
Anthracoceros - Hornbills. Weight up to 1 kg, their helmet is smooth and large, with a bare throat.
Ptilolaemus. Up to 900 grams, there is a small pronounced growth, the skin around the eyes is bare, blue.
Anorrhinu - Brown. Up to 900 grams in weight, stand out with a dark helmet, the chin and areas around the eyes are naked, blue.
Penelopides - Filipino. Small - up to 500 grams in weight, with a pronounced helmet, transverse folds are clearly visible on the beak.
Tropicranus. Weigh within 500 grams.
Tockus - currents. Small, weighing up to 400 grams, the helmet is small, in some species it is absent.

Spread

Tropical hornbill prefers landscapes with woody vegetation. On the African continent, birds can be found from mountain and equatorial moist forests to savannas and dry light forests. Several species can be adjacent to one territory. They coexist peacefully, occupying various ecological niches.

These birds are found in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula, on the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, in Southeast Asia. Madagascar and Australia no longer have rhinos. Some species are endemic (they live in a geographically limited area). Birds practically do not settle in places cultivated by people. They prefer virgin forests.

Breeding

There is no clearly defined breeding period. Despite the diversity of species, most birds combine a curious way of hatching eggs. First, the male selects a suitable nest. He cannot hollow it out himself, so he is looking for a suitable abandoned dwelling. The female invites to the “bride”, after the approval of the house, the birds mate.

Before the female lays eggs, the hollow is almost completely walled up with a mixture of earth, wood dust, fruit pulp, clay and droppings. All components are held together by saliva. There remains a small hole through which the male feeds the female first, and then the chicks. Sometimes lonely young males help him in this difficult matter. In large birds, the number of eggs does not exceed three. In smaller reaches 7.

The shelter protects the future offspring from snakes, monkeys and other lovers to feast on eggs. The incubation period lasts from 6 to 8 weeks. During the hatching period, the female manages to completely change the plumage. The male molts during the rainy season. In many species, couples are created for life. Hollow used for several years.

Hatching begins after the appearance of the first egg, so the age of the chicks can be different. Constant control over the safety of the offspring leads to the fact that the wall is built and destroyed several times. First, the female flies out of the hollow after the end of molting. Then fledged children, as they grow older, get out and learn to fly. After each exit of the next chick from the shelter, the wall collapses and is restored again, and so on, until the last cub leaves the hollow. Chicks begin to learn to fly at the age of 3-4 months. They remain in the family until the next breeding season, and sometimes longer.

Such behavior is not characteristic of all representatives of the species. Horned crows choose hollows mainly in baobabs. They can settle in crevices of rocks. They do not block their "houses".

Food

Almost all species of rhino birds are omnivores. The habitat and size of the beak dictate an addiction to different diets:

Carnivorous. Birds feed on insects, small vertebrates, mollusks, amphibians, and small birds. The Kafra horned raven belongs to such species, and the Monteira current eats exclusively insects.
Vegetable. Such a diet is preferred by forest residents. The main food for them are the fruits of tropical trees. These include black helmet and gold helmet kalao
Mixed. This type of food is characteristic of the Indian rhino (pictured). In the crowns of trees they find fruits, and insects, and small living creatures. The large size allows them to easily cope with small vertebrates.