Great Hornbill | 10 Jul 2025
In a rare sighting, the Great Hornbill (Malamuzhakki Vezhambal in Malayalam) was spotted in Kannur’s (Kerala) coastal region.
Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
- About: It is a large bird (length 95–120 cm, weight 3 kg) from the Bucerotidae family, characterized by a curved yellow bill and a prominent hollow casque. It is mainly frugivorous but also hunts small animals.
- Geographic Range: Native to parts of South and Southeast Asia including India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
- In India, it is found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Northeast, and parts of Central India.
- It serves as the official State Bird of both Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Hornbill festival celebrated in Nagaland is named after this, which is the most revered and admired bird for the Nagas.
- In India, it is found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Northeast, and parts of Central India.
- Habitat: Inhabits tropical and subtropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, preferring old-growth trees with large cavities for nesting. Coastal sightings are highly unusual.
- Found at elevations of 600–2000 m, it is arboreal, diurnal and non-migratory.
- It mainly faces threats from human hunting and habitat loss due to deforestation.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I
Read More: Save Hornbills, Save Tropical Forests |