Great Hornbill
Buceros bicornis
Overview
The hornbill is instantly recognizable by its massive yellow and black bill topped with a prominent casque. Both sexes have predominantly black plumage with white on the neck, abdomen, thighs, and wing markings, as well as a long white tail banded with black. Males and females are similar in appearance, but males possess a more prominent casque with black highlights, and have red eyes surrounded by black skin, while females have smaller casques with reddish highlights, and bluish-white eyes surrounded by pink skin.
Great hornbills measure 38in to 48in in length, with males generally being larger and heavier at 5.72lb to 7.48lb, compared to females weighing 4.62lb to 7.26lb.
- Found in
- Southeast Asia
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Genus
- Buceros
Conservation Status
As a Vulnerable bird, the great hornbill is under threat from habitat loss and hunting. Deforestation across Southeast Asia has dramatically reduced mature, old-growth forest habitats, which they depend on; and forest habitat is further fragmented by human expansion, making it difficult to find nesting cavities and foraging opportunities. Hornbills are also targeted by hunters for their meat, casques and feathers, which are used for food or in rituals and as traditional ornaments. Due to its low reproductive rate, the great hornbill recovers very slowly from these pressures.
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Southeast Asia safeguard critical habitats, while community-based conservation programs encourage locals to protect nesting sites and monitor populations. Artificial nest boxes have been installed in some regions to compensate for the loss of natural cavities, with promising breeding results. Continued habitat protection and strong community engagement remain essential for the survival of this iconic species.
- Wild Population
- 13,000 - 27,000
- Conservation Status
- Vulnerable
Animal Facts
- The large yellow casque of the great hornbill is made of hollow keratin and is thought to play a role in attracting mates, amplifying calls, and in head-butting fights between males.
- Great hornbills hold symbolic significance in many indigenous cultures of India and Southeast Asia, often featuring in traditional stories, dances, and rituals.
- When flying, great hornbills produce a distinctive whooshing sound that can be heard from a distance, sometimes compared to a steam engine.
- Great hornbills are primarily frugivores, with figs making up a large part of their diet, but they also eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.
- Great hornbills rub their bills and casques against an oil gland near their tails, giving them a shiny yellow finish.
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Social & Reproduction
Great hornbills live in small groups of monogamous pairs and their offspring.
Great hornbills are monogamous and remain mate-bonded for life, or at least multiple seasons on end. Mating takes place in the dry season. Courtship between a potential pair often begins with aerial displays and loud duets, and the male offering food to the female. Once bonded, the pair typically selects a large, natural cavity high in a mature tree. After mating, the female will seal herself into the cavity with a mixture of mud, droppings, and fruit pulp, leaving only a narrow opening for the male to feed her and their future offspring for several months.
Inside the cavity, the female lays 1 or 2 eggs, incubating them for 38 to 40 days until they hatch, followed by 5 more weeks of early chick rearing. During this time, the male forages for figs and other food, usually fruit and opportunistically small birds, reptiles or mammals, and shares it with his family in the nest. After this period, the female breaks the seal and leaves the cavity, helping her mate to forage and provide for the chicks. The chicks start leaving the nest after their 7th week, but will be cared for by their parents until around 15 weeks old.
The young hornbills at this point become independent from their parents, but won’t reach sexual maturity until 4 or 5 years old. Males generally breed later than females, as they may not successfully bond with a female until their casques are fully developed.