Oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
(Malaysian Pied Hornbill)

Family: BUCEROTIDAE

Hornbills are large, black or brown, and white, mainly arboreal birds, with long, heavy bills. Many species have large protuberant casques on top of the bill which may be gaudily coloured. Hornbills are found throughout Africa and tropical Asia, and throughout Indonesia to New Guinea. They eat fruit and insects and have harsh, penetrating calls.

The nesting habits of the family are interesting. The incubating females are usually sealed into tree hole nests with mud, leaving only a small aperture through which food can be passed by the male. When the young are hatched the female breaks out but reseals the nest entrance again until the young are ready to leave. Ten species of hornbill occur in Sumatra, eight in Borneo, but only three are found in Java.

Description: Small (75 cm), black and white hornbill with a large yellow-white casque. Plumage black except for a white patch under the eye, white lower belly, thighs, and undertail coverts, white tips to flight feathers and white outer tail feathers.

Iris-dark brown; naked skin around eye and gular skin-white; bill and casque yellow-white with black spots on base of lower mandible and front of casque; feet-black.

Voice: Incessant, strident cackle ayak-yak-yak-yak-yak.

Range: N India, S China, SE Asia, Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas and Borneo.

Distribution and status: A conspicuous bird of lowland primary and secondary forests.

Habits: Prefers more open habitat such as forest edge, clearings and secondary forest than other hornbills. Found in pairs or noisy parties, flapping or gliding from tree to tree. Eats insects more than fruit.