Geographical Range Southeastern Asia
Habitat Forests
Scientific Name Buceros rhinoceros
Conservation Status Near threatened

This giant hornbill was revered by ancient people as a "god of war." Today it hops through the tropical jungle canopy looking for ripe fruit to eat. Hornbills usually live in pairs, but sometimes groups will congregate in a tree to eat. They make nests in trunks of large trees.

The Hatching Story

Customary for all hornbills, when a female lays her egg, she seals herself in a log with mud and fruit and incubates the egg, relying solely on the male to pass her food through a tiny hole. About 30 days after the chick hatches, the female breaks out of the cavity and reseals the entrance. She and the male help feed the growing chick until it emerges at approximately 80 days of age.

Did You Know?

This bird's golden-yellow horn (called a casque) is thought to act as a "resonating chamber," amplifying the animal's nasal calls. The casque may look heavy and cumbersome, but it's actually very light. It's made up of thin, hollow cells supported by tiny, hollow bones.