Rhinoceros Hornbill
Rhino Hornbill is a very large (110 cm),
black and white hornbill with yellow and red bill and casque, and diagnostic
white tail with a broad black band. Head, back, wings, and breast black; belly
and thighs white. Iris-white to blue in females, red in males; skin around
eyes-dark grey; bill yellow with red base and surmounted by upturned spiralling
casque; feet-greenish grey. Pairs inhabit the crowns of the tallest trees. A regular visitor to fruiting giant strangling figs. Gives a dramatic whooshing sound of wing-beats in flight.
The courtship and bonding of these birds are critical, as the female must trust the male to provide her with everything when she is incubating and raising chicks. These Hornbills lay their eggs inside tree trunks, the females stay inside with the eggs, while the male will bring her and the young food. After the eggs are laid the male collects mud, and the male and female pack that mud, food, and feces to 'mud-up' the tree cavity entrance. This creates a very small hole, only large enough for the male to feed the female (and later chicks) and for the female to defecate out the hole. Once the babies are old enough (fully feathered)to leave the nest the female and male chip away the dry mud so the babies can get out.
I have yet to see it in its natural habitat................
No comments:
Post a Comment