ABSTRACT
Hornbills, toucans, and kingfishers are popular birds in zoos worldwide owing to their active natures and/or colourful and eye-catching nature. Many species are threatened in the wild, with ex-situ populations providing an excellent safety net, with one species being listed as Extinct in the Wild. The charismatic nature of these birds, allows them to act as ambassador species for their respective habitats, promoting a more holistic conservational approach. Information on the behaviour of these species, including wild behavioural ecology and activity budgets, should be used as the basis for captive management decisions, whilst considering the constraints of captivity. This chapter examines the variety of behaviours exhibited by hornbills, toucans, and kingfishers to show how this information allows improvement of animal welfare, enclosure design, and assists in population management.
