Black-Casqued Hornbill Skull

Approximate Size: 8x3x5" Hornbills are fascinating birds with unique traits and behaviors making them an interesting topic of study for ornithologists, conservationists and collectors alike. You may have noticed the boney lump on the top of it's beak (it's kinda hard not too). The casque, a hollow structure on top of the beak, serves multiple purposes. It is used as visual signal of sexual maturity, as a resonating chamber for calls, and for aerial jousting during mating season. So, love in the clouds is just another date night for these fascinating birds. The weight of a hornbill's casque and bill are so heavy that their first two neck vertebrae are fused to support the weight. That's a lot of evolution to support their romantic ways. The calls made by the bird range from deep booming sounds as they begin foraging to brays, toots, bellows, and cackles. It's like a love song but no saxophone or lyrics made up from 60% of the word "baby".  The black-casqued hornbill is also known as bla