These are the smallest of the Philippine Hornbills. The cream colored one is a male and the females are all black. I could write a book on these guys after observing them for so long. They are noisy, playful, and scared of nothing!
They are mainly frugivores, but will eat meat or just about anything else that looks filling. I have had these since they were babies, eyes barely open. I have seen them stalk small lizzards, one on each side of its hideing place trying to flush it out and then sharing it when caught. They will catch live quail, play tug of war with it till the head is off, then rub it on a branch for minutes on end till the feathers are removed, and swallow it whole like a pelican. This has to be an instinctive trait as they were here since they were babies. |
