Rhyticeros undulatus
The Wreathed Hornbill, Rhyticeros undulatus, is a truly magnificent avian spectacle of Southeast Asia's tropical forests. Reaching lengths of 75-100 cm and weighing 1.5-3 kg with an impressive wingspan up to 150 cm, its primarily black plumage is dramatically offset by a striking white tail. Males possess a distinctive yellowish-orange, deeply furrowed casque atop a large, pale yellow bill and a vibrant yellow-orange gular pouch, while females exhibit a smaller, darker casque and a prominent ...
This species thrives in tropical and subtropical evergreen and deciduous forests, preferring forest edges, clearings, and even plantations. They are typically found from sea level up to 1,500 meters, though occasional sightings occur higher.
Predominantly frugivorous, their diet consists mainly of figs, drupes, and other wild fruits. They supplement this with insects, small reptiles, amphibians, and even crabs, especially during the breeding season.
Wreathed Hornbills are diurnal birds, often observed singly, in pairs, or in large, noisy flocks, especially at communal roosting sites outside the breeding season. Their foraging strategy primarily involves scanning the forest canopy for ripe fruits, which they deftly pluck with their large bill...
The Wreathed Hornbill boasts a wide, though increasingly fragmented, distribution across mainland Southeast Asia and parts of the Sundaic region. Its breeding range extends from northeastern India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and south i...
Vulnerable
- The 'wreathed' part of their name refers to the distinctive, furrowed appearance of the male's large casque. - Female Wreathed Hornbills famously seal themselves inside a tree cavity during nesting, relying entirely on the male to bring them food through a narrow slit. - This sealing behavior p...