Hornbill feeding

Gallery: AvianPosted March 14, 2014119 views7 comments

This is of a Great Hornbill feeding its mate/young. The Hornbill makes its nest in the bark or cavity of the tree. Then covers the hole leaving only a narrow opening. If you look closely you can see the beak jut out from the hole.

The photo was taken from a significant distance and hence the lower picture quality. The photo was altered beyond simple edits to enhance the subject and environment in the photo. Photo was edited in Adobe Photoshop. Photo was taken in Langkawi, Malaysia (Feb, 2014).

Canon EOS 7D
EF400mm f/5.6L USM
f/5.6
1/200
iso 1000

Larger image:

http://natureshues.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/greathornbill01.jpg

Photoblog site:

http://www.everything-nature.com

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 14, 2014 at 9:36 AM

This is a Great Hornbill, not a Rhinoceros Hornbill. Nice behavioral shot.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by John Jeevaratnam on March 14, 2014 at 10:19 AM

Thank you Nate.

Registered on July 29, 2013, 112 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 14, 2014 at 11:39 AM

John, a fascinating behavioral shot. The opening just looks like old bark. Form your description it sounds as if the darker sections might be something like mud used to restrict the opening until the young are ready to fledge. Can you add any more on the behavior? Thanks for sharing this.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by John Jeevaratnam on March 14, 2014 at 12:18 PM

Thank you Rick, my trip was an introduction to nature travel in South East Asia. My expertise on the bird are minimal. From what I was reading the incubation takes around 40 days, and the female is imprisoned in the hole, relying on the male to provide her and the 1 or 2 eggs/ fledgelings with food. Diet consist of berries, fruit and the occasional squirrel too. Monogamous pair.

Registered on July 29, 2013, 112 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 14, 2014 at 10:46 PM

Great behavioral shot. I long for a larger image in order to see more detail.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 14, 2014 at 11:50 PM

Wow.....What a moment to capture. I actually love that it is not a close up shot. The setting is spectacular. Would love to have seen a larger image of this.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by John Jeevaratnam on March 15, 2014 at 1:14 AM

Thank you Jerry and David.

Larger image:

http://natureshues.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/greathornbill01.jpg

Registered on July 29, 2013, 112 Posts, 229 Comments