Black hornbill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black hornbill |
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| Male at London Zoo, England | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Anthracoceros
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| Species: |
malayanus
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The black hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) is a fascinating bird from the hornbill family. These birds live in parts of Asia, including Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Black hornbills are known for flying for many hours at a time. Sadly, their numbers are decreasing because of hunting and the loss of their natural homes.
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About the Black Hornbill
Black hornbills are quite picky about where they live and when they have babies. They prefer to live in low-lying areas, not high mountains. These birds will only start building nests and laying eggs when there is a lot of fruit available. They also choose very large trees for their nests. If there isn't enough fruit, they might wait for years before trying to nest.
Helping Plants Grow
Black hornbills play a super important role in nature. They are major seed dispersers. This means they eat fruits and then spread the seeds around when they fly and poop. This helps new plants grow!
One fruit they love is Durio graveolens, a type of durian. Their connection to this fruit is so strong that some people even name the fruit after them. For example, the Kenyah and Dayak people call it durian anggang, which means 'hornbill durian'. In Malay, it's called durian burong or durian burung, meaning 'durian bird'. They also help spread the seeds of another plant called Vitex pinnata.
What Do Black Hornbills Eat?
Black hornbills are mainly frugivores, which means they eat mostly fruit. They have a very varied diet, enjoying over 50 different kinds of fruit! Their favorite foods include figs and Vitex pinnata. They also enjoy fruits like Sterculia cordata and Durio graveolens.
How to Tell Them Apart
It's easy to tell male and female black hornbills apart by looking at their bills.
- The male black hornbill has a yellowish bill.
- The female black hornbill has a dark grey bill.
