The hornbill received its name for its outstanding beak size. Almost all representatives of this family have a peculiar outgrowth on it. Moreover, in different species, it may differ in size, color and shape. Many countries in Asia and Africa have issued stamps with "nosed" birds. 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 signs
The hornbill (photos are presented in the article) is 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 features:
- large and bright beaks;
- unusual growth on the beak;
- relatively short legs;
- head 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 flyhigh and very good. They climb trees very well, because it is on them that they get their livelihood. On the ground they move heavily and clumsily.
Puberty occurs approximately at 3-4, in small species at 1-2 years. They lead a sedentary lifestyle. Small representatives fly in small flocks of 20-40 individuals, large ones fly in pairs.
The Indian hornbill is one of the largest representatives of the family. Growth reaches 1 meter in length, wingspan is 1.5 meters. The huge beak is decorated with a bright black and yellow growth.
Views
According to the International Organization for the Protection of Birds and the Conservation 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 covering, blue or red, sometimes two-colored. A distinctive feature is that it does not wall up the hollow.
- Rhinoplax - helmet-billed. Live weight up to 3 kg, have a high growth of red color. The bare neck of males is red, while females are bluish-violet.
- Buceros - gomrai. Weight 2-3 kg, have a very large, curved front helmet.
- Ceratogymna - helmeted. The maximum weight is 2 kg, they are distinguished by a large build-up. The sides of the head and throat are bare, blue in color.
- Rhyticeros. Large birds from 1.5 to 2.5 kg with high volume growth.
- Aceros. Up to 2.5 kg, have a poorly developed growth in the form of a small hump.
- Berenicornis –white-crested. They weigh up to 1.7 kg, there is a small horny outgrowth, the female has black cheeks and lower body, the male has 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, 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, distinguished by a dark helmet, the chin and areas around the eyes are bare, 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, some species are missing.
Distribution
Tropical hornbill prefers landscapes with woody vegetation. On the African continent, birds can be found from mountainous and equatorial wet forests to savannahs and dry woodlands. Several species can coexist in the same area. 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. Hornbills are no longer in Madagascar and Australia. Some species are endemic (live in a geographically limited area). Birds practically do not settle in places cultivated by people. They areprefer virgin forests.
Reproduction
There is no clearly defined nesting period. Despite the diversity of species, most birds are united by a curious way of incubating eggs. First, the male chooses a suitable nest. He cannot hollow it out himself, so he is looking for a suitable abandoned dwelling. Invites the female to the "bride", after the approval of the house, the birds mate.
Before the female lays her 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 task. In large birds, the number of eggs does not exceed three. For smaller ones it reaches 7.
The shelter protects future offspring from snakes, monkeys and other lovers of eating eggs. The incubation period lasts from 6 to 8 weeks. During the incubation period, the female manages to completely change plumage. The male molts during the rainy season. In many species, pairs are created for life. The hollow has been used for several years.
Hatching begins after the appearance of the first egg, so the age of the chicks may be different. Constant control over the safety of 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 the molt. Then the fledgling children, as they grow older, get out and learn to fly. Behind every exitthe next chick from the shelter, the wall collapses and is restored again, and so on until the last chick 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.
This behavior is not typical for all members of the species. Horned crows choose hollows mainly in baobabs. They can nest in rock crevices. They don't wall up their "houses".
Food
Almost all species of hornbills are omnivores. Habitat and beak size dictate predilection for different diets:
- Carnivorous. Birds feed on insects, small vertebrates, molluscs, amphibians, and small birds. The Kaffir horned raven belongs to these species, and the Monteira current eats only insects.
- Vegetable. This diet is preferred by forest dwellers. The main food for them is the fruits of tropical trees. These include the black-helmeted and gold-helmeted kalao
- Mixed. This type of feeding is characteristic of the Indian hornbill (pictured). In the crowns of trees, they find fruits, insects, and small animals. Their large size allows them to easily cope with small vertebrates.
Only a few species are able to drink water. Most get the amount of fluid they need from food.
Endangered
The hornbill is a forest dweller. For a full life, she needs spacious perennial forests. Several reasons put their existence at risk:
- deforestation;
- disturbance factor by people in nesting areas;
- hunting birds for food, treatment of diseases, making souvenirs;
- Nest busting: bird traders kill the female and take the chicks for sale.
The saddest situation with three species:
- Anthracoceros montani (Suluan hornbill) is known to have survived on the island of Tawi-Tawi. Their total number is only 40 individuals.
- Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni or red-headed hornbill. The population is no more than 4000 birds.
- Rhinoplax vigil (helmeted hornbill) - number steadily declining.
In addition, two species are critically endangered, five are vulnerable, and twelve are close to extinction.
