The Helmeted Hornbill is without doubt the most extraordinary member of a remarkable family. (The casques of several other species of Hornbill are far more imposing, but they are hollow or filled with spongy tissue.) The single exception is the Helmeted Hornbill, Rhinoplax vigil. This is contained in a solid casque or epithema at the front of the head above the beak. There are at least sixty varieties of Hornbill birds in the Eastern Hemisphere, but only one of these bears the “ivory,” a hard, carvable substance which is almost as dense as elephant ivory. Thus we are very fortunate in having a fine example in the University Museum (see Figure 1). Carvings in it were always highly valued and they have now become exceedingly rare. The strange substance called “hornbill ivory” was formerly an important commodity in Asiatic trade, and it was extensively carved, especially in China and the East Indies. Rhinoceros hornbill | The Dallas World Aquarium. Rhinoceros Hornbill: Species in World Land Trust reserves. Rhinoceros Hornbill | Meet Our Animals | Chester Zoo Birds. Great Britain: Dorling Kindersley.īirdLife International. 2020. Buceros rhinoceros. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22682450A184960407. Downloaded on 09 March 2021. During take-off a sharper version is used.īy Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE – Rhinoceros Hornbills (Buceros rhinoceros), CC BY-SA 2.0, Their call is a honking squawk used to communicate. In some areas they will form groups of up to 15 individuals who forage together. Often they wait on a nearby tree till the larger rhinoceros hornbills have left so they can feed. When this species is foraging other small hornbill species tend not to feed at the same level on the tree. They remain dependent on the parents for the first six months of their life. She will then work with the male to provide food to the chick for another 50 days till it too can emerge.įledging takes place between 78 and 80 days after hatching. Typically only a single egg is laid but two is possible.ģ0 days after the chick has hatched the female breaks the seal and leaves before resealing it. Through this the male will pass her food for the length of the 30 day incubation period. Once the female has laid her egg she will seal the opening with mud and fruit leaving only a small opening. Rhinoceros hornbills form their nest in a hollow within the tree. Males court the female by bringing her food.Įgg laying can take place at various times throughout the year including January, March to June, September and November. This species is monogamous with pairs remaining together for life. Their long sharp bill is used to pick up and control their food. The rhinoceros hornbill will disperse seeds from their food through the forest as they travel around. Rhinoceros hornbills are omnivores with their diet including fruits, insects, lizards, amphibians, small birds and eggs. They have a wingspan of up to 150cm (59in) across. Rhinoceros hornbills have black legs and feet.Ī rhinoceros hornbill will measure 80-90cm (31.5-35.4in) long. These are protected by long eyelashes which are made from feathers. They have red eyes which are surrounded by a white ring in females and a red or orange ring for males. The beak will be colored orangish-red by an oil which is exuded from a gland under the tail. Their bill and the casque are colored a creamy-white with black at the base. It may serve to amplify their call or help to communicate their gender and age to other birds.Īcross the majority of their body the rhinoceros hornbill is colored black with the vent and thighs having white feathers. Scientists are yet to agree on the purpose of the casque. The casque is formed from a thin layer of skin and bone which sits over a honeycomb structure. Their casque turns up at the end giving it a resemblance to a rhinoceros horn. The rhinoceros hornbill is named for the large projection which rests on top of the bill and is known as the casque.
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