The rhinoceros bird | Facts & Information

Origin

In general, these birds are medium-sized, but they can also reach considerable sizes.

Feeding The Rhino Bird

The rhinoceros bird feeds on insects, frogs, snakes or fruit.

Features Of The Rhinoceros Bird

They are distinguished by their large beak and special crest. Depending on the species, Rhinoceros birds may have one (Bucorvus abyssinicus – the Horned Raven, lophocerus nasutus – the gray Toko Bird) or two horns (Dichoceros bicornis).

The beak represents a strong formation, bent and flattened laterally and is provided at the base, in most cases, with bony growths, curious, of various shapes. The head is relatively small, the eyes are large, surrounded by stiff eyelashes, and the neck is quite long.

Usually, rhinoceros birds have short legs. The plumage always has gloomy colors: black, gray, tan, with more or less white, the color of the beak being different from species to species: Lophocerus flavirostris (toko Bird) has a yellow beak, lophocerus erythorhynchos (small Toko Bird) has a red beak.

They generally live in groups of 8 birds, of which only one pair makes chicks, the rest having the role of “helpers”. The Petit is loud and very dynamic.

Birds emit a powerful sound, reverberated by the enlarged portion of the tip of the beak, called the “helmet”. The female is the active part of the pair: she puts her beak into the ground, fluffs her feathers and offers the male nuptial gifts various types of food.

Adults are almost as large as a swan with lumgims ranging from 91 to 122cm and weighing 2-3kg. In captivity they live up to 35 years.

Breeding The Rhinoceros Bird

The female lays two eggs, the size of chicken eggs, which she hatches for 84 days. One chick is raised, the other is removed.

Interesting is how the pair builds their nest, in order to hatch.

The male bullies the female when she lays the eggs. The nest is made in a hollow of a tree, and the male brings the building material, which consists of dry soil mixed with saliva.

The two build a wall in front of the Hollow, which is cemented after drying.

The female is walled inside, the only connection to the outside being made through a slot, through which it is fed by the male throughout the hatching.