With their prominent bills and big broad wings, these magnificent black and white birds are incredibly impressive.
Found in South and South East Asia, the great hornbill is reliant on huge areas of pristine forest for food and nesting sites. They have distinctive calls which are amplified by their hollow bills, allowing the sound to travel further.
Their diet consists of large quantities of fruits, berries and figs making them a great disperser of rainforest seeds due to the distances they fly. Without hornbills, the forests would not be able to regenerate!
As with many hornbill species, the female great hornbill nests in hollows of tree trunks. She seals herself in leaving a narrow slit through which the male passes her food. She incubates her eggs here for over a month and once hatched, the chicks remain with her in the nest for a further 3 months.
Great hornbill chicks have no trace of the distinctive yellow head casque characteristics of the adults as this starts to form in their second year and takes five years to fully develop. It is thought that they use the casque for visual signalling.
Animals in South East Asia are under threat from deforestation for PALM OIL plantations
We’re working with partners in the field to promote SUSTAINABLE palm oil and protect the habitats of thousands of species in the rainforests of South East Asia, and YOU can help!
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NOW is the time to ACT FOR WILDLIFE. Conservation is CRITICAL; species are under threat. TOGETHER we can make a BIG difference. Take action TODAY and join us in PREVENTING EXTINCTION.