Hornbill

The hornbills (Bucerotidae) are a family of bird found in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia. They have a long, down-curved bill which is often brightly colored and sometimes has a box-like thing on the upper mandible. Many states of India like Kerala are fond of the hornbills. It is also the state bird of Kerala.

Hornbill
Malabar grey hornbill Ocyceros griseus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	Bucerotiformes
Family:	Bucerotidae Rafinesque, 1815

The brightest colours on most hornbills, like this pair of knobbed hornbills, are found on the beaks and bare skin of the face and throat

The female hornbill lays her eggs in a hole in a tree. Then, helped by her mate, she seals herself in, covering the entrance with droppings and mud. Only a small slit is left, through which the male gives her food. This keeps the nest safe from snakes until the chicks are grown enough to leave the nest, and learn how to fly.

Hornbill Media

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  Close-up of Great hornbill

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  Close-up of head of a Malabar grey hornbill showing eyelashes

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  As its name suggests, the Sri Lanka grey hornbill is grey and endemic to Sri Lanka.

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  Female great hornbill feeding on figs. Fruit forms a large part of the diet of forest hornbills.

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  Male black-casqued hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata) on display at the Museum of Osteology.

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  The red-billed hornbill now usually includes several species-level taxa

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  The Indian grey hornbill is an overall grey bird and native to the Indian subcontinent. So are other members of genus Ocyceros.

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  All members of Anthracoceros, like these Palawan hornbills, have a pied plumage

Related pages

• Uchek Langmeidong