Oriental pied hornbills mate on HDB flat kitchen window

A man was welcomed by a wild sight at home when he saw a pair of hornbills mating while perched on his flat window.

Alex Goh posted this photo in the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group and wrote, "Heard some noises in the kitchen this morning. A pair of hornbills came visiting."

The male bird, which is bigger and with a larger bill, was seen on top of the female bird, which is smaller.

The oriental pied hornbills are native to Singapore.

Even though they nest in large trees, they can often be found in urban areas, feeding on fruit and small animals.

Breeding in the wild

Breeding while perched on a window is not the norm for oriental pied hornbills.

When breeding in the wild, the female hornbill is sent inside a natural cavity in a tree.

The cavity is then sealed with a plaster of mud and fibres.

This supposedly protects the birds from predators.

The male hornbill will deliver food to the female and their chicks through a narrow slit.

The oriental pied hornbill is listed as "near threatened" in the Singapore Red Data Book.

Top photo via Alex Goh