Great Hornbill | 10 Jul 2025

Source: TH

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. 
• 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