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Bill
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The hornbill gets its name from its large, curved bill or beak. The bill has a special structure on its top known as a "casque." The casque is thought to amplify the bird's voice. Hornbills use their large beaks to pick up insects and small animals from the ground and fruits from trees. The edges of the hornbill's bill contain notches that help the bird grasp and tear its food before eating.
Feeding Behavior
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Larger species of hornbill usually eat mostly fruit from treetops. They live in groups called "flocks" and travel together looking for food. Carnivorous hornbills search for small animals along forest floors.
Omnivores
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Most species of hornbill are omnivores, feeding on fruits and nuts found in trees as well as a variety of insects and small animals, such as lizards, baby birds and frogs. Hornbills such as the red-billed hornbill eat bird eggs. Some species of hornbill eat dead animals.
Carnivores
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Only two species of hornbill, the Abyssinian hornbill and the southern ground hornbill, are carnivorous. Unlike other hornbills, they spend much of their time hunting for food on the ground. These two species of hornbill hunt forest rodents such as mice, snakes and frogs.
In Captivity
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When kept at a zoo, most species of hornbill are fed several kinds of food. Included are yams, a variety of fresh fruits, mice, mealworms, crickets and even cat or dog food.
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The Diet of the Hornbill
The hornbill is a type of bird that is native to Africa, India and many parts of Asia. Hornbills are commonly found within forests, savanna and scrub lands. The approximately 50 species of hornbill range in size from that of a common pigeon to birds having a 6-foot wingspan. Most hornbills are omnivores.