Berenicornis comatus
The White-crowned Hornbill, *Berenicornis comatus*, is a striking, large-bodied hornbill species, easily distinguished by its shaggy white crown and crest, which extends down its neck and chest, contrasting sharply with its otherwise black plumage. Males boast clean white cheek patches, while females have black cheek feathers, providing a clear instance of sexual dimorphism. Adults measure approximately 75-80 cm (30-31 inches) in length and weigh around 1.3-1.5 kg (2.9-3.3 lbs). A crucial ide...
Primarily inhabits dense, evergreen lowland and hill rainforests, favoring mature primary and mature secondary forests, generally found at elevations up to 1000 meters.
Omnivorous, feeding primarily on a diverse range of fruits, large insects, and small vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, and even bird nestlings. Forages mainly by gleaning from branches and foliage within the forest canopy.
White-crowned Hornbills are largely diurnal, spending their days foraging high in the forest canopy but occasionally descending to lower strata or the forest floor. They exhibit a unique foraging technique, meticulously gleaning fruits, insects, and small vertebrates from branches and foliage. Th...
The White-crowned Hornbill is endemic to Southeast Asia, with its distribution spanning the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and extending into extreme southern Myanmar and extreme southern Thailand. It is found year-round within these regions, primarily in lowland and hill primary rainforests, ...
Vulnerable
- The White-crowned Hornbill is the sole species in its genus, *Berenicornis*, making it a unique evolutionary lineage. - Like many hornbills, the female seals herself into a tree cavity with mud and her own droppings during nesting, relying entirely on the male (and often helpers) for food. - Th...