North American great hornbill (SciiFii)

The North American great hornbill (Buceros americanum), also simply known as the North American hornbill and the American hornbill, is a species of hornbill of the genus Buceros that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, swamps, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity, making it one of the only species of hornbill of the New World. The North American great hornbill is a large bird, 95–130 cm (37–51 inches) long, with a 152 cm (60 inch) wingspan and a weight of 2 to 4 kg (4.4 to 8.8 lb). The average weight of 7 males was 3 kg (6.6 lb) whereas that of 3 females was 2.59 kg (5.7 lb). The North American great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity. It is predominantly frugivorous, but is an opportunist and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds. During the breeding season (March to June), the American great hornbills become very vocal. They make loud duets, beginning with a loud "kok" given about once a second by the male, to which the female joins in. The pair then calls in unison, turning into a rapid mixture of roars and barks. They prefer mature forests for nesting. Large, tall and old trees, particularly emergents that rise above the canopy, seem to be preferred for nesting. They form monogamous pair bonds and live in small groups of 2-40 individuals. Group courtship displays involving up to 20 birds have been observed. The female hornbill builds a nest in the hollow of a large tree trunk, sealing the opening with a plaster made up mainly of feces. She remains imprisoned there, relying on the male to bring her food, until the chicks are half developed. During this period the female undergoes a complete moult. The young chicks have no feathers and appear very plump. The mother is fed by her mate through a slit in the seal. The clutch consists of one or two eggs, which she incubates for 38–40 days. The female voids feces through the nest slit, as do the chicks from the age of two weeks. Once the female emerges from the nest, the chicks seal it again. The young birds have no trace of a casque. After the second year the front extremity separates from the culmen, and in the third year it becomes a transverse crescent with the two edges growing outwards and upwards, while the anterior widens to the width of the rear end. Full development takes five years. The conservation status of the North American great hornbill is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American great hornbill's wide range and its tolerance to most of the human activities, including being able to adapt to life in the cities and suburbs.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii