Rhinoplax vigil
The Helmeted Hornbill, Rhinoplax vigil, is a magnificent and uniquely striking bird, distinguished by its massive, solid casque, making it a prominent resident of Southeast Asian rainforests. Measuring up to 120 cm (47 inches) in length, excluding its exceptionally long central tail feathers which can add another 50 cm (20 inches), and weighing between 2.6 to 3.1 kg (5.7 to 6.8 lbs), it is one of the largest hornbills. Its plumage is primarily black, with white underparts and a white tail con...
This hornbill primarily inhabits lowland and submontane evergreen tropical and subtropical rainforests, often found along ridgelines and in primary growth. It typically resides at elevations up to 1,500 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, their diet consists mainly of fruits, with a strong preference for figs, which they pluck directly from trees. They occasionally supplement their diet with small animals like insects and lizards.
Helmeted Hornbills are diurnal, spending their days foraging high in the canopy and often roosting communally in large trees. They are largely sedentary within their extensive territories, which they vocally defend with their distinctive, loud, laughing calls, often heard at dawn and dusk. These ...
The Helmeted Hornbill is a resident species found throughout the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and some parts of southern Thailand and Myanmar. Its distribution is largely confined to lowland and submontane primary and well-developed secondary evergreen rainforests. Historically, its range wa...
Critically Endangered
- The Helmeted Hornbill's casque is solid keratin, making up about 10% of its body weight, unlike other hornbills whose casques are hollow. - This solid casque is highly prized and has been carved into ornaments for centuries, leading to the bird being hunted for its 'red ivory' or 'ho-ting'. - I...