A photography enthusiast was able to capture a great hornbill couple breeding and teaching a chick to forage.

"When I took photos in Yingjiang Hornbill Valley, I found three great hornbills. Then I used my camera lens to observe them carefully, and it turned out that they are a family of three," Zheng Shanhe said.

The bird parents were feeding fruit to their chick in turns. The offspring is only a few months old and is not capable of feeding itself. But it will learn a variety of life skills from its parents, and then leave during the breeding season from March to June of next year to form its own family.

The hornbill is a rare species under second-class national protection in China. Its population is mainly distributed in the vicinity of the Yingjiang Hornbill Valley.

Yingjiang Hornbill Valley is located on the bank of the Hongbenghe River, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. It is a paradise for both birds and bird lovers.

The great hornbill is one of the five hornbill species found in China. Their large bills enable them to feed on tropical fruits, nuts, small mammals, reptiles and birds. But the yellow and black casque on top of its large bill is hollow and serves no known purpose.

(Cover image via VCG)

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