Wildlifeof Vietnam
Great Hornbill
Hornbills, Hoopoes & Trogons
Photo: Rohit Naniwadekar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Buceros bicornis
Rare visitor: recorded only occasionally in this country
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly fruit; also small mammals, reptiles, birds and large insects
Habitat
Forest; obtains water from fruit
Range
Forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra and Java; a gathering of 150–200 birds in south-eastern Bhutan
Size
95–130cm
Wingspan
About 152cm
Weight
2–4kg
The great hornbill is one of the larger hornbills, 95 to 130cm long with a 152cm wingspan and a weight of 2 to 4kg. Its most prominent feature is the bright yellow and black casque on top of its massive bill. Females are smaller than males and have bluish-white instead of red eyes, with the back of the casque reddish (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is native to the forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, mainland Southeast Asia and Sumatra, and a congregation of 150 to 200 birds has been recorded in south-eastern Bhutan. It is predominantly fruit-eating, including lipid-rich fruits of the laurel and nutmeg families, and obtains water entirely from fruit. It is usually seen in small parties, with larger groups at fruiting trees.
Quick answers
- What does the Great Hornbill eat?
- Mainly fruit; also small mammals, reptiles, birds and large insects
- What habitat does the Great Hornbill live in?
- Forest; obtains water from fruit
- Where is the Great Hornbill found?
- Forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra and Java; a gathering of 150–200 birds in south-eastern Bhutan
- How big is the Great Hornbill?
- 95–130cm
- What is the wingspan of the Great Hornbill?
- About 152cm
- How much does the Great Hornbill weigh?
- 2–4kg