The great hornbill, also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It occurs in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is predominantly frugivorous, but also preys on small mammals, reptiles, and birds. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2018. It is known to have lived for nearly 50 years in captivity. Due to its large size and colour, and importance in many tribal cultures and rituals, the Government of Kerala declared it as the official Kerala state bird. It is also the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh.
Region
Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Found from the Western Ghats and northeastern India through Bhutan, Nepal foothills, Bangladesh and Myanmar into Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, peninsular Malaysia, and parts of Sumatra. It favors primary evergreen and moist deciduous forests with large, old trees for nesting. The species often concentrates around fruiting fig trees and uses forest edges and riparian corridors. Habitat fragmentation restricts movements between suitable forest blocks.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The great hornbill sports an enormous yellow casque atop its bill that amplifies calls and is used in displays. It is a key seed disperser, especially of figs, moving large seeds across tropical forests. Pairs are monogamous, and the female seals herself inside a tree cavity to nest, relying on the male to deliver food. Culturally significant across South and Southeast Asia, it is listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting.
Male feeding the female at the nest
Temperament
social and active but territorial around nest sites
Flight Pattern
powerful flier with heavy wingbeats interspersed with glides; audible wing whoosh
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs or small groups, gathering in larger flocks at fruiting trees. Pairs are strongly monogamous; the female seals herself inside a tree cavity during incubation, leaving a slit for food deliveries from the male. Nesting depends on large, mature trees with natural cavities.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Calls are loud, resonant honks and cackles that carry far through the canopy. Wingbeats produce a distinctive whooshing sound in flight, often heard before the bird is seen.
