Great Hornbill

A giant of the canopy

The great hornbill is one of the largest hornbills. Its massive yellow-and-black bill is topped with a hollow, U-shaped casque. Adults have white tails with a black band and black-and-white wings. The species lives in old forest, where it needs very large trees for nesting.

Sounds that carry through the forest

Great hornbills call with deep, resonant barks and roars, often in duets between mates. In flight their wing feathers make a heavy, rhythmic whooshing that people describe as sounding like a steam engine. These sounds help pairs stay in touch in dense forest and announce territory.

Nesting in a sealed tree hole

The female seals herself inside a tree cavity with a wall of mud, droppings and fruit pulp, leaving only a narrow slit. The male then feeds her and the chick through the gap for weeks. Because this depends on huge old trees, logging and hunting have made the species vulnerable. Fig trees are especially important, so protecting forest fruit trees helps hornbills.

Further reading: Top Forest Animals and Their Unique Calls

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.