Bucerotidae

Bucerotidae, or hornbills, is a family of tropical and subtropical birds comprising about 50 species in several genera. They are best known for their large, down-curved bills and distinctive keratinous casques atop the upper mandible, which vary in size and shape and are used in display.

Found across Africa and Asia, hornbills inhabit forests, woodlands, and savannas, often requiring large trees for nesting. They typically move in small groups and feed on fruit, insects, and small vertebrates, with some species showing strong fruit specialization.

Description and diet: Plumage ranges from muted browns and blacks to bright markings; many species exhibit sexual dimorphism. Diet is largely frugivorous, with supplementary animal prey in many species. Hornbills are known for their loud, resonant calls and distinctive flight patterns through dense vegetation.

Reproduction and nesting: Hornbills nest in tree cavities. The female seals the entrance with a wall of saliva and mud after laying eggs, leaving a narrow doorway for the male to deliver food. The pair share incubation and provisioning duties, though the female remains largely inside the cavity during incubation and early chick-rearing. Clutch size is typically one to two eggs.

Taxonomy and conservation: The family includes genera such as Buceros, Rhinoplax, Aceros, and Anorrhinus. Systematics are subject to revision with molecular studies. Habitat loss and hunting threaten several species; some hornbills are listed as threatened or near threatened on the IUCN Red List, with the helmeted hornbill among the most at risk due to trade in their casques.