Giant Hornbill

GIANT HORNBILL (Buceros bicornis)

Status: CITES Appendix: I, NPWC Act: Schedule:I
Distribution:

National: Chitwan National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve,Bardia national park.

Global:Ranges from Kumaon Himalaya to eastwards in Terai and midhills up to 2,000 meters.
Distinctive Characters: Black face, white neck and belly, black breast and entirely white tail with a broad black band. Huge yellow bill with concave-topped casque. Female is similar but smaller. Body length 130 cms.
Habitat: Resident of subtropical, evergreen and moist decidious forests.

Habit: Makes a barking like noise. Feeds mainly on wild figs, nutmegs, drupes and berries, lozards, snakes, rodents.Gather if group of 150 or more at fruiting of Ficus tree.

Threat: Habitat destruction.