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 barrel is modified with a small access door and a mounted infrared camera so that keepers can determine when eggs are laid and for monitoring the growth of the healthy chicks.The rhinoceros hornbill is named for the large projection which rests on top of the bill and is known as the casque. In the Zoo, hornbill breeding is encouraged by offering a large wooden barrel on a raised platform to simulate a hollow tree trunk. Once the chicks are 80 days old, they are fully feathered and ready to leave the nest. About three months after the chicks hatch, the female will then break herself out of the tree and begin helping the male by assisting in feeding the growing chicks. When she is ready to incubate the eggs, she will seal herself inside of the nest cavity with mud and scat, leaving only a small slit to pass food through relying solely on her mate to provide her with food and protection. Rhinoceros Hornbills are cavity nesters, meaning the female hornbill will lay her eggs inside a hollowed out tree. These programs help to maintain the genetic diversity of animal populations in the zoo community by developing a comprehensive breeding program and managing their husbandry, conservation and education efforts. SSP programs are captive breeding programs for animals in danger of extinction. The Nashville Zoo is a proud participant in the Rhinoceros Hornbill Species Survival Plan (SSP). While the species is not yet considered endangered, it has been decreasing in number. Along with the global issue of deforestation resulting in a loss of habitat, these birds are hunted as food, and ornaments are made out of their casques and feathers. The Rhinoceros Hornbill faces many challenges which pose serious threats on the species. The casque is made out of keratin, like our fingernails, and is very strong and lightweight. It can be distinguished by its banana-shaped casque on the top of its beak. The Rhinoceros Hornbill is one of 54 species of hornbills that exist.
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