Red Billed Hornbill
The red-billed hornbill is a small hornbill species, 42-40 cm long, without a casque, which can easily be distinguished of its close relative Tockus flavirostris by its bill, which is somewhat smaller and red-coloured, except at the base of the lower mandible, which is black. The iris is yellow and the legs are dark brown. Sexes look alike, young birds have shorter bills and buffy spots on their wing-coverts It is a common species of savanna woodlands with larger trees. It may enter villages and rest camps in conservation areas and become very tame. Breeding occurs from October to January. 3-6 white and pitted eggs are laid in a tree hole. Like other hornbills, the red-billed hornbill has an interesting parental strategy. The female seals herself into a tree cavity, leaving only a small slit through which the male provides food. The female moults and re-grows her feathers during this time, then breaks out of the nest when the eldest chick is 21-22 days old. The chicks then reseal the entrance alone, using their droppings and food remains. Finally, the chicks fly from the nest, but remain with their parents for six months. The diet of the red-billed hornbill consists mainly of insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, and larvae of all kind of species. Also fruit and bulbs are eaten
Size: 3456px × 3456px
Location: Gambia
Photo credit: © Intellifix / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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