hornbill
noun
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Definition of hornbill
: any of a family (Bucerotidae) of large nonpasserine birds of Africa and Eurasia having enormous bills
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Examples of hornbill in a Sentence
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Unfortunately, morning on the river starts before sunrise, when the boatmen fire up the outboards and the hornbills start squawking and the rustle of leaves hints at the primates feeding in the canopy. — Paul Brady, Condé Nast Traveler, "Want Serious Bragging Rights? Do a Road Trip Across Borneo," 16 Nov. 2018 There, guests have the opportunity to experience native culture and observe wildlife such as proboscis monkeys and hornbills while spending nights aboard the Rahai’i Pangun Houseboat. — Phil Marty, chicagotribune.com, "A wild look at Indonesia, a lauded hotel at a winning price and more," 2 July 2018 This goes on hilariously multiple times, although the hornbill seems nonplussed by the mongoose’s efforts. — Cady Lang, Time, "A Dwarf Mongoose Playing Dead Is Hilarious and Impressive at the Same Time," 6 Apr. 2018 Watch the full clip of the mongoose and the hornbill below. — Cady Lang, Time, "A Dwarf Mongoose Playing Dead Is Hilarious and Impressive at the Same Time," 6 Apr. 2018 Many have particularly bright plumage, such as parrots, parakeets, and hornbills; others, such as the bulbul, sing. — Longreads, "The Way We Treat Our Pets Is More Paleolithic Than Medieval," 22 Mar. 2018 Native people in Borneo have carved hornbill casques into ornaments for at least 2,000 years. — National Geographic, "These Rare Birds Are Being Slaughtered for Their 'Ivory'," 16 Mar. 2016 Among the animals on display here: Rhinoceros hornbills, with horn-like structures on their beaks; and Malayan flying fox fruit bats, among the largest bats in the world, with a wingspan of up to 5 feet. — Susan Glaser, cleveland.com, "Bird-watching in Pittsburgh: National Aviary highlights unusual, intelligent feathered friends (photos)," 20 Dec. 2017 The cast is rounded out by Chiwetel Ejiofor as villain Scar, John Oliver as uptight hornbill Zazu, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogan voicing the comedic duo of Timon and Pumbaa. — Claire Zillman, Fortune, "Disney Officially Adds Beyoncé to Star-Studded Cast of 'Lion King' Remake," 2 Nov. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hornbill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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