Protected from predators in this private suite, she’ll generally lay two eggs, which will incubate for about 42 days. The male will leave only a small slit, through which he’ll will deliver her food. Once mated, most hornbill pairs will find an existing tree cavity, and the male will seal the female inside using its own dung mixed with soil or regurgitated food. A male will often bring food to its mate, sometimes for an entire year. Many hornbill species are considered monogamous, but only Montiero’s hornbill of southern Africa is genetically monogamous, meaning neither the male nor the female mate with any other birds. There are many courtship behaviors, such as clattering bills together or alternating calls in a sort of duet. These omnivores may dine on anything from fruit and seeds to insects, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Almost all species nest in natural cavities, mostly in trees but sometimes on rocky cliffs.
Hornbills inhabit a variety of landscapes, including forests, savannas, shrublands, and rocky and high-altitude areas. The red-billed dwarf hornbill, found in East and Central Africa, is the smallest species, at just under one foot. The largest hornbill, southern Africa’s southern ground hornbill, stands at three feet tall with a four-foot wingspan. Most of the 62 hornbill species spend their time in the trees, except for the family Bucorvidae, the ground-dwelling hornbills. (The Walt Disney Company is majority owner of National Geographic Partners.) Some hornbill species don’t have casques, such as the red-billed hornbill, which was the model for the character Zazu in The Lion King. Casques may also provide support when the birds use their beaks to peel off tree bark or dig in soil for insects. Hornbills are tropical birds named for their unusually large, curved bills, some of which are adorned with a large casque, a hollow structure made from keratin.Ĭasques, which vary in size and color, serve a number of functions, such as attracting mates and resonating sound, making the birds’ territorial calls more audible.