Malaysia Taman Negara Hornbill Postcard

Hornbills are a striking family of birds (Bucerotidae) found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. They are instantly recognizable due to their large, curved bills often topped with a casque, a hollow structure that can amplify calls or be used for display. Hornbills vary in size from the smaller species, like the black-casqued hornbill, to massive birds such as the great hornbill. They are highly social and often seen in pairs or small family groups, communicating with loud, distinctive calls that echo through the forest. Hornbills are omnivorous, feeding mainly on fruits, insects, small animals, and sometimes eggs or nestlings, which makes them vital seed dispersers in their ecosystems. Their unique nesting behaviour is also remarkable: females are often sealed inside tree cavities with mud and droppings, leaving only a small slit through which the male delivers food. This strategy protects the eggs and chicks from predators, demonstrating the hornbill’s adaptation to dense forest habitats.