great indian hornbill, delhi zoo

Hornbills are a large family of almost 45 species. This omnivorous bird has a long, curved bill. Before laying eggs the female sits in a hole in a tree trunk. The male and the female, from within, then seal the cavity leaving a slit wide enough for the tip of the female's bill to come out. The male feeds the female until the young are half grown -a minimum of 5 weeks, and for some species nearly 3 months.