The knobbed hornbill, also known as Sulawesi wrinkled hornbill, is a colourful hornbill native to Indonesia. The species is sometimes placed in the genus Aceros. The knobbed hornbill is the faunal symbol of South Sulawesi province.
Region
Southeast Asia (Wallacea)
Typical Environment
Occurs across Sulawesi and several adjacent islands, mainly in primary and mature secondary rainforest. It prefers tall, undisturbed lowland and hill forests with abundant large fruiting trees and suitable nesting cavities. Birds often range widely to track seasonal fruiting, using ridgelines and riverine corridors. They can visit forest edges and agroforests when trees are fruiting but rely on large tracts of intact forest for breeding.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This striking hornbill is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia and is the faunal symbol of South Sulawesi. Males have a prominent knobbed casque that enlarges with age. Like other hornbills, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity during nesting, relying on the male to feed her and the chick. It is a key seed disperser for large forest trees, especially figs.
Male
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong flier with deep wingbeats and short glides
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs or small family groups; larger feeding flocks form at heavily fruiting trees. Monogamous pairs nest in large tree cavities; the female seals the entrance, leaving a narrow slit for the male to deliver food. After the chick grows, the female breaks out and both parents continue provisioning.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud honks, cackles, and barking notes that carry through the canopy. Wingbeats produce a distinctive whooshing sound during flight. Calls intensify at dawn and around communal fruiting trees.
