Hobbies And Interests
The Hornbill
The hornbill is commonly a large, distinctive looking bird with pied coloring, a large beak and loud calls easily heard in the rain forest home where it resides. The bird resembles the toucan in appearance. Hornbills are from the order Bucerotiformes, and there are 54 species worldwide. Its habitat range is reported to be spread out over Africa, India, Papua New Guinea and Asia. The largest hornbill species is the great southern ground hornbill that stands almost 3 feet tall. The smallest is the dwarf red-billed hornbill, which weighs just more than 100 grams. The birds' favorite habitat features mature, tropical forests. Some hornbills are omnivorous, and others are frugivorous, eating only fruit such as bananas, guavas and papayas.
Macaws
One of the most popular of tropical birds and often kept as a pet, the macaw includes 17 species of the family Psittacidae. Most are brightly colored to resemble the flowers and fruits of the trees they frequent, thus acting as camouflage. Macaws inhabit tropical forests of Central and South America. The birds feed mostly on fruits, nuts and seeds, which they crack apart with their large, powerful beaks and grip with their toes. Some macaws include insects and snails in their diet. The birds are social, often seen in small flocks of up to 30, usually screeching and squawking to one another in communication. The largest of the macaw species is the endangered hyacinth macaw, with a large wingspan of more than 4 feet. Macaws are long-lived birds, often reaching ages of up to 60 years. The birds also are known to mate for life.
White-Ruffed Manakin
Corapipo altera is a small, passerine bird from the manakin family found in the tropical regions of South America from northwestern Venezuela to the eastern Honduras. It is commonly found in lowlands and foothills, and breeds on the Caribbean slope and higher up on the Pacific slope. The bird has a hooked bill and the male boasts a striking plumage that is an iridescent blue-black with a white throat and neck. The female is olive-green. On average, the white-ruffed manakin is only about 10 cm long. These tiny birds feed on small fruits such as berries, often grabbing them in their beaks as they fly.
Environmental Concerns Affecting Fruit-Eating Birds
Deforestation of vast areas of rain forest, and the encroachment of humanity in South America and other tropical parts of the world, is making it harder for birds to find food. This means the birds have to fly farther to search for fruit-producing plants and trees, and compete with other species for dwindling sources.