The Indian Hornbills

An overview of the nine hornbill species that is found in the nation, including information on their calls, habitats, and more.

 

An image of two Indian Grey Hornbills sitting on a balcony railing of an apartment building in Mumbai, Maharashtra, appeared on Twitter earlier this year. The greatly loved and shared video, which became popular, received a range of reactions. While some individuals made remarks and inquired about the species' name, others appeared in astonishment that such birds could exist in the midst of the huge urban jungle of the city. Ironically, Indian Grey Hornbills are one of the subcontinent's most prevalent resident hornbill species. Reactions to the video demonstrate that there is a low level of awareness of hornbills in general, despite the fact that they have adapted to the urban environment and have been seen eating leftover food.

 

Whatever you choose to call them—charismatic, enigmatic, rare—hornbills are unquestionably among the most alluring birds on the planet. They are a birdwatcher's delight due to their distinctive sounds, disproportionally huge beaks, long eyelashes, prominent casques, special courtship behaviors, and the beautiful colors that some hornbill species display.

 

Nine of the 62 species of hornbills, which are found throughout the world, are found in India. The number of hornbills in the nation is difficult to quantify, however as of February 2017, a citizen science project run by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) had listed 938 hornbill sightings across India. Hornbills are referred to be "farmers of the forest" because they are essential to forest regeneration. 

 

Although they are omnivores, they favor fruits, especially figs. Scientist Rohit Naniwadekar describes the seed dispersal mechanisms of hornbills in his article "Seed Dispersal Mechanisms of Hornbills." "They are known to disperse seeds and aid in the regeneration of tropical trees by enabling the seeds to escape from competition with the parent plant and siblings, as well as from the predation of rodents, invertebrates, and fungi that they would otherwise experience under the mother plant," he writes. 

 

Here is a brief summary of the Indian hornbill:

 

The Great Hornbill, sometimes known as the Great Indian or Great Pied Hornbill, is the largest hornbill species in India. They are predominantly found in India's northeast, along with the Western Ghats and the foothills of the Himalayas. These remarkable birds range in length from 95 to 130 cm, and may be recognized by their black and white feathers as well as their big, curved beaks. The upper mandibles have a prominent casque on top and are a bright yellow color. The tip of the male casque contains black markings. Females have casques that are smaller and lack the black markings. Great Hornbills can be found in deciduous and evergreen tropical and subtropical highland forests. The number of hornbills in the area is correlated with the forest's density.

Natural cavities in big, ancient trees, especially those that stand above the canopy, are where Great Hornbills lay their eggs. In addition to habitat loss and deforestation, hunting has a big impact on these animals' populations. They are frequently targeted due to urban legends about the therapeutic properties of their meat and curiosity about their huge casques.

 

Rufous-necked hornbills are large hornbills that are between 90 and 100 cm in length. Northeast India is home to hornbills. As the name suggests, male hornbills are primarily black in color, while females have a rufous head, throat, and underparts. Both sexes have red gular pouches and blue coloration around their eyes. Rufous-necked Evergreen broadleaved and deciduous woods are preferred habitats for hornbills. They prefer wide-girthed trees as nesting locations and construct their nests inside of tree hollows. Their populations are severely damaged by deforestation and habitat fragmentation since they are dependent on huge trees for food and breeding. 

 

Large birds, Wreathed Hornbills have a length of about 85 cm. The head, crown, and gular pouch of the male Wreathed Hornbill are rufous in color. The gular pouches of female hornbills are blue, whereas their heads and necks are black. Hornbills store fruits in their gular pouches, which they later swallow while spitting the seeds out. The primary rainforests are the major habitat for Wreathed Hornbills, which are very dependent on the forest. Only the northeast of India has sightings of the species. They prefer deciduous trees for nesting and construct their nests inside of tree holes. As Wreathed Hornbills depend on huge forest regions for survival, one of the major risks to their existence is the destruction of forest land.

 

Oriental Pied Hornbills resemble Malabar Pied Hornbills in appearance and are primarily black and white in color. The male Oriental Pied Hornbill is larger than the female, measuring between 60 and 70 cm in length. Male and female hornbills can be identified from one another by their bills and casques in addition to their differences in size. 

 

The broad casque on the males' yellow bills has a black line-like coloring at the end. In females, the casque is smaller and has black patterns on the upper bill and casque end. These birds can be found primarily in the northeast of India, where they live in moist deciduous and evergreen forests. They are visible near the borders of forests and in riverine areas. Due to their extreme adaptability, Oriental Pied Hornbills can also be found in gardens and close to farms. Their population trend is constant since they may live in a variety of settings.

 

Malabar Grey Hornbills are relatively tiny hornbills that are native to the Western Ghats and are about 60 cm in length. Long, curved beaks and brown-grey coloring with white streaks on the head and underparts are characteristics that help identify the species. Female hornbills are slightly smaller than males. Like other hornbill species, Malabar Grey Hornbills lack big, distinguishing casques. Males have little casques, whereas females have casques that are black in color. They are well renowned for their loud calls, which sound like loud cackling noises and are frequently characterized to as "maniacal laughing." Malabar Grey Hornbills have been spotted in plantations in the Western Ghats in addition to forest areas. One of the major dangers to the species is land degradation and forest conversion for agricultural use. 

 

Indian Grey Hornbills are the most prevalent hornbill species and are brownish-grey in color. They are widespread throughout the Indian subcontinent. They are the tiniest hornbills found in India, with a length of roughly 60 cm. The crimson eyes, black skin on their orbital patch, and distinctive pointed black casques on their bills are all characteristics of males. While females have smaller casques, brown eyes, and red orbital patches, males do not. Indian Grey Hornbills can be found in both urban settings and deciduous woodlands. They are quite adaptive and can create nests inside cracks in built-up areas. Their favored habitats are riverine areas and dry deciduous woodlands. Despite their resilience, this species is concerned about habitat destruction since it affects their capacity to get food. 

 

The Narcondam Wreathed Hornbill is another name for a hornbill. Female hornbills are totally black in color, as opposed to the males, who have a rufous breast, neck, and head. A blue patch is present below the lower mandibles of both sexes. The Narcondam Hornbill measures around 65 cm in length and is related to the Wreathed Hornbill. It is smaller than most hornbills. They are native to the Narcondam Island, the easternmost of the Andaman Islands, as their name suggests. Within a 12 square kilometer area, the hornbill species can be found. The broad mixed forests that occupy this area are their home, and they require big trees for roosting and nesting. Their population is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and habitat changes due to their small geographic range and reliance on forest land.

 

Brown Hornbills or White-throated Brown Hornbills are other names for Austen's Brown Hornbills. In keeping with their name, they have brown-colored feathers. The Austen's Brown Hornbills are between 70 and 80 centimeters long. The white patches on the male hornbills' cheeks and throat, which are brown on female hornbills, can be used to tell them apart from one another. The casques of Austen's Brown Hornbills are smaller than those of other hornbill species. They are primarily observed in the northeast of India. 

 

They live in evergreen and broadleaf highland forests and have a great dependence on the forest. They sometimes take over abandoned bird nests left behind by woodpeckers as they construct their homes in tree cavities. Breeding pairs are supported by young helpers who assist in caring for and defending the chicks. Some of the biggest threats to the species are agriculture and the conversion of forest area for construction projects.

 

The tropical jungles of India and Sri Lanka are home to the endemic Malabar Pied Hornbill. These huge hornbills range in length from 65 to 90 cm and are mostly black in color. Their feather tips are white, and they have white underparts and under tails. Large yellow and black beaks with a noticeable casque on top are characteristic of Malabar Pied Hornbills. 

 

The only difference between males and females is a white patch around the female's eyes. Males' eyes have a black ring around them. Despite their name, Malabar Pied Hornbills can be found in sections of central India's Western Ghats. They can be seen in densely forested places close to rivers and streams and live in broadleaf deciduous and evergreen forests. Near the canopy, Malabar Pied Hornbills construct their nests in tree cavities. In several regions of the country, hunting is a significant threat to the species in addition to habitat deterioration.