The rufous-necked hornbill is a species of hornbill in Bhutan, northeastern India, especially in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is locally extinct in Nepal due to hunting and significant loss of habitat. There are less than 10,000 adults left in the wild. With a length of about 117 cm (46 in), it is among the largest Bucerotine hornbills. The underparts, neck and head are pigmented as a rich rufous in the male, but black in the female.
Region
Eastern Himalayas to mainland Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from Bhutan and northeastern India (notably Arunachal Pradesh and Assam) through northern Myanmar and southwest China (Yunnan) to northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It favors extensive tracts of primary evergreen and semi-evergreen hill forest with large, old trees for nesting. Birds may move locally following fruiting trees and use ridgelines and forested valleys for travel. It is scarce in heavily logged or fragmented habitats and is mostly tied to protected or remote forest blocks.
Altitude Range
150–2500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The rufous-necked hornbill plays a key role as a long-distance seed disperser for large rainforest trees, especially figs. During breeding, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity with a wall of mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit; the male feeds her and the chicks through this opening. It is threatened by forest loss and hunting, and has vanished from parts of its former range such as Nepal.
An immature in Namdapha National Park
An adult in flight Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
An adult in Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
"Bulup" or Cane hat of the Minyong tribe of East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh with hornbill beak, most likely that of rufous-coloured hornbill
Temperament
wary but social around fruiting trees
Flight Pattern
strong flier with deep, whooshing wingbeats; capable of long glides across valleys
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small groups, with larger aggregations at fruiting trees. Breeding pairs nest in large tree cavities; the female seals the entrance, relying on the male to deliver food. They are monogamous and maintain strong pair bonds.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include deep honks, grunts, and barking calls that carry over long distances. Wingbeats produce a characteristic whooshing sound audible before the bird is seen.
