Which toucan is that?
What kind of toucan is that? This is a question asked often when visitors enter Tropica. While the hornbill’s beak resembles that of the toucan, these animals are not closely related.
Did you know…
That the oriental pied hornbill nests in tree cavities to reproduce? The female is walled up in a hollow tree by means of a cured mixture of fruit and faeces with only a tiny opening remaining. This ensures that the eggs and chicks are protected against predators. The male provides food for the female and the chicks until the latter leave the nest.
Casque on the bill
The hornbill has an additional protrusion on top of its beak. This is called the ‘casque’. The name ‘hornbill’ is owed to this feature. You can clearly see the difference between males and females. Females are somewhat smaller and their casque is less prominent.
That the characteristic beak of the oriental pied hornbill is mainly hollow on the inside and is used when foraging, fighting, and walling up the nest cavity.
