The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), one of the largest members of the hornbill genus, also goes by the names concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill, or great pied hornbill. It appears in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. While it mainly eats plants, it also eats birds, reptiles, and tiny creatures. Since 2018, the IUCN Red List has classified it as Endangered. In captivity, it has lived for about 50 years. The government of Kerala selected it as the official state bird of Kerala due to its size, color, and significance in many cultural customs and traditions.
Perched Majestic bird stands tall.
The great hornbill is a large bird, weighing 2 to 4 kg (4.4 to 8.8 lb), measuring 95 to 130 cm (37 to 51 in) in length, and having a 152 cm (60 in) wingspan. On average, males weigh 3 kg (6.6 lb) and females 2.59 kg (5.7 lb). While not the longest Asian hornbill, it is the heaviest among common hornbills since ground hornbills were reclassified into the Bucorvidae family. Females are smaller than males, with pinkish orbital skin and bluish-white eyes instead of red. Like other hornbills, they have prominent “eyelashes.” The most striking feature is the black and yellow casque on its large bill. The Latin name bicornis (two-horned) refers to the casque’s concave top and two ridges forming a U shape when viewed from the front.
Majestic Stare The Great Hornbill surveys its kingdom.
Males have a black underside on the front and back of the casque, while females have a reddish back. Great hornbills usually move in small groups but sometimes gather in larger numbers at fruit trees. In southeastern Bhutan, a group of 150 to 200 birds has been recorded. Their diet mainly consists of fruit, with figs being especially important. These birds inhabit the forests of Southeast Asia, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sumatra. They require large tracts of rainforest for survival. During the January to April breeding season, they become highly vocal, performing loud duets where the female joins after the male’s repeated “kok” call, creating a roaring, barking chorus. For nesting, great hornbills prefer mature woodlands with large, tall trees, especially those that rise above the canopy. They live in small groups of two to forty individuals and form monogamous pair bonds.
Quiet vigilance The Great hornbill Patiently observing, it surveys the dense forest.
Reports indicate that up to 20 birds may take part in group courtship displays. The female hornbill builds her nest in a large tree hollow and seals the entrance with excrement. She remains inside until the chicks are half-grown, relying on the male for food. During this period, she undergoes a full molt. The chicks hatch fat and featherless. The male feeds the mother through a small slit in the seal. She incubates one or two eggs for 38 to 40 days. At two weeks, both the mother and chicks begin discharging waste through the slit. When the female leaves, the chicks reseal the nest. Juveniles lack a casque. By the second year, the front extremity separates from the culmen. In the third year, it forms a crescent shape, widening at the front. Full development takes five years.
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