The imprisoned female lays a few white eggs. While incubating, she begins a complete molt and for a time is flightless, having lost all her wing and tail feathers. Among many hornbills the female breaks her way out of the nest a week or more before the young are ready to leave the shelter. Dressed in all-new feathers, she helps her mate feed their young. With an amazing display of instinct, the babies immediately rebuild the entrance barrier.
Most hornbills are black and white, sometimes varied with chestnut or gray.
Their legs and feet are short and rather weak. Most hornbills are fruit eaters. There are some 46 species that make up the family. The red-billed hornbill is shown at left above.