Zazu is a character from Disney's animated film "The Lion King." He is a red- billed hornbill, a type of bird found in Africa, known for the distinctive shape of its bill that resembles a horn. In "The Lion King," Zazu serves as the royal advisor and majordomo to King Mufasa and later to Simba. He is depicted as an uptight, punctual, and loyal bird with a distinctive red and yellow bill. The real bird that inspired Zazu is the African red-billed hornbill, which lives in savannas and woodlands in sub-Saharan Africa. This bird is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, insects, and small animals. It has a long, curved red bill, and both males and females look similar, with females having slightly smaller bills. Red-billed hornbills are territorial, often live in pairs or small family groups, and have unique nesting behaviors where the female seals herself in a tree cavity during incubation, relying on the male to feed her and the chicks through a narrow opening. Zazu, as a character, was featured prominently in the 1994 Lion King film and the 2019 photo-realistic remake. The character's portrayal is based on the hornbill's natural characteristics and behaviors, though artistic license has colored his bright blue and white feathers and his role as a flying mentor within the story.