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Interesting Facts About The Great Hornbill With Pictures
There are colorful species of birds in the world and some birds are endangered while some birds have a high population. You must have seen the photo given above, today we are going to know about a beautiful bird. The name of this beautiful bird is Great Hornbill.
The Great Hornbill is mainly found in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. Let's take a look at the interesting facts and information of these birds, you must read this article completely only then you will be able to know about this bird closely.
Where Are Great Hornbill Found
Great Hornbills mainly live in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula and these magnificent birds are seen in Thailand, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Myanmar, Vietnam and Sumatra. Great Hornbills are also seen in forests in the hilly areas of Northeast India and Borneo.
Apart from this, ornithologists in India have also discovered other species of Great Hornbill in the forests of the southern region and the ranges of the Western Ghats. The Great Hornbill is a species of birds and is native to Southeast Asia. Hornbills of this bird species are also known as Great Pied Hornbills, Great Indian Hornbills and Concave-Casqued Hornbills.
The Great Hornbill has no natural predators but due to logging, poaching and habitat loss the population strength of the Great Hornbill is decreasing day by day. Great Hornbills are monogamous birds and are found in small size flocks consisting of a few other breeding pairs and their chicks.
Communal roosting is a common practice among Great Hornbills and Great Hornbills gather in large numbers to roost together after sunset. The Great Hornbill is considered significant in many tribal cultures and rituals due to its large size and colour. Also the Government of Kerala declared it as the official Kerala State Bird.
Scientific Name Of Great Hornbill
The scientific name of Great Hornbill is Buceros bicornis and Great Hornbill is one of the most gorgeous species of hornbill in our world. The beautiful shaped carapace, bright yellow beak and beautiful colors of Great Hornbill make their appearance mesmerizing. Great Hornbill gets this name due to their U shaped carapace and their family name is derived from the name 'Bicornis' which means two horned.
Habitat Of Great Hornbill
Great Hornbills are tree dwelling bird species and prefer to live in tropical, subtropical rainforests, densely wooded mountainous areas and moist climates. Apart from this, Great Hornbills are found in India, Bhutan, Nepal, mainland of Southeast Asia, Indonesian island of Sumatra and Northeast region of India.
In the subcontinent, Great Hornbills are found in the forests of Western Ghats and Himalayas. The Great Hornbill's habitat extends to Thailand, Burma, Malaya and Sumatra, and a small wild population is found in Singapore. Apart from this, the Great Hornbill inhabits moist dense forests in mountainous areas.
How Does A Great Hornbill Look Like
A Great Hornbill is recognized for its beautiful coloration. The neck and belly of the Great Hornbill are covered with beautiful white feathers and the rest of their body is covered with black feathers. The color of the beak and tail of the Great Hornbill varies between bright yellow and shades of red. Great Hornbills use their hollow cawing to attract their females.
Similar to other species of hornbills such as the Red-billed Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbill and African Hornbill they have prominent and gorgeous eyelashes. The females are slightly smaller in size than the males. There are also other differences between the male and female such as the female has blue-white eyes and the male has red eyes.
This bird is a large colorful bird found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Also, the impressive size and color of the Great Hornbill has made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals.
The most distinctive feature of the Great Hornbill is the bright yellow and black cover over its huge beak and the back of the cover is red in females. While the back is black in male Great Hornbills. Also the commissure of the beak is black and has a serrated edge which gets worn away with age. Read- Why Are Sloths Slow | Incredible Facts About The Sloth
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What Do Great Hornbills Eat
Great Hornbills are omnivorous birds and their diet consists of various small birds, amphibians, small-sized mammals, reptiles and insects. Among the plant-based foods, Great Hornbills are particularly fond of fruits that are rich in sweetness. Great Hornbills prefer such fruits due to their high energy requirement especially during the breeding season.
When a female bird is busy with her incubation work then all the other male birds in the flock are responsible for arranging food for her. Great Hornbills are social birds and they live in small groups of 2-40 birds. Great Hornbills are usually seen in small groups with larger groups occasionally gathering on fruit trees.
Great Hornbills are active during the day and when night falls they gather in large communal roosts on the highest branches with small leaves. Apart from this, Great Hornbills forage mainly in branches. Great Hornbills move about by hopping and feeding on fruit, looking for insects and small lizards, tearing and probing tree bark.
The prey is then caught, tossed into the air and swallowed. The birds can visit several fruit trees in a day and travel long distances to feed. Great Hornbills are very loud birds. When communicating with each other within communal roosts, they make deep, raspy grunts, roars.
Great Hornbill Size
The Great Hornbill is the second largest species in their group after the Helmeted Hornbill and their length ranges from 37.4-47.2 inches with a wingspan of 59.4-70 inches. A Great Hornbill is the heaviest in their group and its average body weight is up to 3 kilograms.
How Great Hornbills Communicate
Like other species of birds, Great Hornbills communicate with each other through various sounds and postures. Great Hornbills are actually very loud birds that make sounds like roars and grunts. Great Hornbills make duet sounds as a signal when forming a pair during the breeding season. The male hornbill is a very competitive bird when it comes to mate selection.
How Fast Can A Great Hornbill Fly
Great Hornbills are non-migratory bird species and fly within their range. With their huge wings, the Great Hornbill can fly at a speed of about 18 miles per hour and the specialty of the Great Hornbill lies in their wings. It is said that the sound of the flapping of the wings of the Great Hornbill can be heard from miles away and it is similar to the sound of a steam locomotive engine.
Great Hornbill Nests
These magnificent birds follow a monogamous mating system. Great Hornbills form a pair and stay together for life. The breeding season of these birds begins in late February and ends in the month of May. Before pairing, the male Great Hornbill performs various courtship displays to attract the female bird. These include head-bumping with other male birds. After that, the female bird accepts by making a sound.
Great Hornbills make their nests in a fairly large hole in an old and strong tree. Great Hornbills nest on the same tree for years. Great Hornbills seal the entrance to protect their nests from predators and natural disasters.
One to two eggs are laid by the female bird in the nest and the incubation period of these eggs is 38 to 40 days. The male bird brings fruits and other food for the incubating female bird. After that the chicks fly at the age of 15 weeks.
How Many Great Hornbill Are There In The World
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 13,000 to 27,000 Great Hornbills exist in the dense forests of Southeast Asia and the IUCN also states that their population is declining. With the declining population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has listed the Great Hornbill as a vulnerable bird species.
The Great Hornbill is currently threatened by habitat loss and hunting and in Southeast Asia these birds are often shot by poachers. Tribal people hunt hornbills for their various body parts and the beak and head are used in amulets. Also, tribals in parts of Northeast India and Borneo use feathers for head dresses and the skull is often worn as a decoration. Read- 10 Of The Most Venomous Snakes On The Planet With Pictures
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How Long Do Great hornbill Live
The lifespan of a great hornbill in the wild is between 35 and 40 years and with proper nutrition and care a great hornbill can live up to 50 years.
Behaviour Of Great Hornbill
Great hornbills are not dangerous birds at all and are one of the friendliest birds you can ever meet. When intimidated, the great hornbill prefers to retreat rather than behave aggressively. Despite being a wild bird, with proper training, great hornbills can be tamed. Great hornbills are also very sociable birds but the issue lies in their size. Hornbill birds are quite large in size and are very difficult to keep in small homes.
Great Hornbill Facts For Kids
1. What is the specialty of the hornbill bird?
The Great Hornbill is one of the most gorgeous and lovely species of hornbills in our world. The beautifully shaped casques bright yellow beak and beautiful colors of the Great Hornbill make their appearance mesmerizing.
2. What does a hornbill eat?
Hornbills are omnivorous birds and their diet includes various small birds, amphibians, small-sized mammals, reptiles and insects.
3. What is special about hornbills?
The most distinctive feature of hornbills is the long and heavy beak of these birds which is supported by powerful neck muscles as well as fused vertebrae. The long, heavy beak of hornbills is used in fighting and hunting. The long beak of hornbills also helps in building nests and catching prey.
4. How long does a hornbill live?
The lifespan of a Great Hornbill in the wild is between 35 and 40 years and with proper nutrition and care a Great Hornbill can live up to 50 years.
5. Why are hornbills named so?
The Great Hornbill gets this name because of their U-shaped carapace and their family name is derived from the name 'Bicornis' which means two horned.
6. How do hornbills communicate?
Like other species of birds, hornbills communicate with each other through various sounds and postures. Hornbills are actually very loud birds that make sounds like roars and grunts.
7. Do hornbills mate for life?
Hornbills follow a monogamous mating system. Hornbills form a pair and stay together for life. The breeding season of hornbills begins in late February and ends in the month of May.
8. In which state is the hornbill found?
The Great Hornbill is considered important in many tribal cultures and rituals due to its large size and colour. Also, the Kerala government declared it as the official Kerala state bird.
9. Is the Hornbill Vulnerable?
With a declining population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has listed these birds as a vulnerable species.
10. How do hornbills reproduce?
Before pairing, male hornbills perform various courtship displays to attract the female bird. These include head-bumping with other males and the female bird accepts by making sounds.