Von der Decken's Hornbill

Fun Facts

• Hornbills are known for their unique breeding habits. Males find a tree cavity and entice females by bringing her mudding material and food gifts. Females do the mudding using dirt and feces, which turns rock-hard when dried. Females then enter the cavity before mudding up the entrance until just a slim slit is left open. For over two months, males feed the trapped female and the chicks when they hatch, through the small vertical slit. Females break out about two weeks before the young in order to help feed them. When the young emerge, they are fully flighted, though their parents will continue to offer them food for another week.