A very strange couple: why does a female kalao walled herself up in a hollow for 3 months

In the forests of Thailand and Indonesia you can observe a strange picture. From a tiny hole in the tree, a massive beak of a bird periodically appears, which takes food from its partner. The hole is clearly small so that a bird with such a huge beak could squeeze into it, but nevertheless it somehow got there. This imprisonment lasts for 3 months. But how did she get there, and why is such a large and strong bird not trying to get out? Today we will talk about the two-horned kalao and the unusual behavior of these birds during the mating season.

Two-horned kalao, or large Indian kalao, are widespread in tropical forests from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Their loud piercing cry comes from the upper tiers of the forest, where the kalao enjoy their favorite food - the fruits of the trees. These are quite large birds, the largest of all rhinoceros birds, whose size reaches 1.3-1.5 meters.

Two-horned kalao found an original way of breeding chicks, which provides protection from predators and maximum preservation of offspring. And if other bird nests suffer from the attacks of monkeys or snakes, then the dwellings of two-horned kalao are reliable, like impregnable medieval castles. This species of kalao breeds when the wet season begins in the tropics. The couple chooses a large hollow, sufficient to accommodate a large female and future chicks. After choosing a place of residence, the female proceeds to the construction of the future nest. Bringing clay soil and mixing it with plant debris and droppings, she spreads the walls that close the entrance to the nest. The final stage of construction is already underway, so that the bird eventually remains in the hollow. The erection of the wall from clay continues until there is a small hole in it, sufficient only to insert the beak.

Caught in safe shelter, the female lays eggs and hatches chicks. The male all this time alone feeds his companion, and then hatched chicks, which are usually two. The father of the family tirelessly brings fig fruits, nuts and other tropical delicacies to his walled woman. Regular feeding and dates through a small window last for 3 months. This marathon exhausts the male so much that he significantly loses weight. But the most interesting is that during the "imprisonment" the female has a change of plumage. It sheds and for a week remains completely devoid of feathers. But the male will never see his chosen one in such an unsightly way: only a beak can be seen through a small hole, so for him she is still as beautiful as at the time of meeting.

After the chicks turn about 2 months old, the mother destroys the wall, releasing them into the wonderful world of the tropics, full of adventure and danger.

I would like to mention another interesting pair from the world of birds, which is characterized by very interesting behavior during the mating season. Unusual green and red parrots living in Australia, for a long time led ornithologists by the nose, posing as two different species of birds. You can read about these interesting birds in one of our materials.

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