Identification:
This is the largest hornbill species in Vietnam. It has a light yellow or black casque on its head. The neck and belly are white; a broad white band is present in the middle of the wings; and the wingtips are white. A broad black band is on the tail. The large bill is yellow with a prominent casque. The bare skin around the eyes is red. Legs are gray. Females are smaller than males, and their bills are also smaller.
Biology and Ecology:
This species is sedentary and nests in dense forests, including pine forests, where large trees are abundant, up to an elevation of approximately 1200 meters. They are often observed foraging in the upper canopy of the forest. Their primary food source is fruits; occasionally, they consume small mammals or reptiles. Their breeding and nesting behavior is similar to that of the Great Hornbill. The male finds a tree hollow large enough for a nest and the female enters to lay eggs and incubate them. During the egg-laying and incubation period until the chicks hatch, the male will forage and feed the female. When the chicks hatch, both parents emerge. If the male dies, the female and nestlings will also die.
The breeding season is from January to August. Nests are constructed from dried feces, wood pulp, fruits, plant branches, and mud. Nests are typically located 8–25 meters above the ground. They lay 1–3 eggs, which are white or creamy white. Their habitat includes evergreen broadleaf forests, mixed forests with deciduous trees, and forests on large islands, up to 1,500 meters in elevation.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Found throughout well-preserved forests across the country.
- Global: India, China, and Southeast Asian countries.
Value:
A large bird with a large bill, used for ornamental purposes.
Conservation Status:
Populations and habitats are declining due to deforestation and hunting for meat and the use of their bills as ornaments.
Classification:
VU A1,c,d C1 (Vulnerable)
Conservation Measures:
Listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (1999, 2000) as Threatened (T), and in the Asian Red Data Book of Birds (2001) as Near Threatened (NT). Included in Government Decree 48/2002 (Group IIB). They are currently protected in several special-use forests in Vietnam. However, as a large, beautiful bird with a large bill, the species is hunted for ornamental purposes. Therefore, they are highly threatened. Increased public awareness campaigns are needed to educate local communities living near forests about wildlife protection.