Hornbills

Shelter
Hornbills nest in hollowed trees. Since they are incapable of creating these hollows themselves, they seek already-hollowed trees, the holes in which are usually created by woodpeckers or other natural causes. These holes should be big enough to house a female and two chicks. After the male coaxes her inside, the female hornbill begins the process of sealing the hole, which is mostly done to avoid predation. This process, which uses droppings as a sealing material, takes about two weeks, and yields in a small slit big enough to fit a female’s beak. During this time, a male hornbill passes food to the female on a daily basis. Male hornbills are able to carry up to 200 small pieces of fruit, which is a helpful attribute, as it reduces the number of necessary visits to the female.

Chick care
When the chicks hatch, 90-130 days (3 or 4 months) after initial laying, the mother hornbill stays in the nest to care for the young chicks. During this time, the male hornbill's visits to the nests increase, as the whole family is dependent on the male for food. Also, during this time, chicks learn vital information from their mother, such as how to keep their nests clean by angling their droppings outside. Sometimes, the mother breaks out of the nest to help the father care for the chicks, although this is rare.

When the chicks are big enough to fly, the mother breaks down the dropping walls of the nest, and the family sees the outside world for the first time in months.

Courtship
Hornbill breeding season happens from January to April, so courting behaviors can be spotted in those months. Hornbill courtship rituals last around 2-3 days. This process consists of a male and female chasing each other. At certain moments, the two birds' beaks will unite. Also, the female will peck at the male's tale several times.