Hornbill - Jardín del papagayo

Hornbills, also known as Asian and African toucans, are exotic birds easily recognized by their large, curved bills and, in many species, a structure called a casque on top of the bill. This casque can vary in shape and color depending on the species and serves functions such as amplifying their calls or being used in territorial displays.

There are over 60 species of hornbills, found mainly in the tropical forests of Africa and Asia. They are omnivorous birds, feeding on fruits, insects, and even small vertebrates. Their fruit-based diet makes them important seed dispersers, helping maintain the ecological balance of the forests they inhabit.

Hornbills usually form monogamous pairs and have a unique reproductive behavior: the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using a mixture of mud, feces, and plant material, leaving only a small opening through which the male passes food until the chicks are ready to emerge.

Unfortunately, many hornbill species are threatened due to deforestation and poaching, as their bills are highly valued on the illegal market. Conserving these remarkable birds is crucial for the biodiversity of the ecosystems they inhabit.