Great hornbill

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Hornbills & Toucans

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Quick facts

Lifespan

Up to 50 years under human care

35 to 40 years in the wild

Diet

Mainly figs

Also eggs and small animals

Habitat

Tall, evergreen forests

And mixed, deciduous forests

Range

Mainland Southeast Asia

Malay Peninsula and Indonesia

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The great hornbills

Duels and duets

The yellow colouration on this hornbill’s casque and flight feathers comes from pigments produced in the preen gland at the base of the tail. The bird distributes the pigments on the casque and feathers while preening.

To compete for a mate, males engage in aerial casque-butting duels, before the start of the breeding season. The size of a male’s casque is likely a visual cue to potential mates. During courtship and after bonding, hornbill pairs perform loud and long-drawn duets. Once bonded, a pair will usually stay together for the rest of their lives.

Egg incubation and care

When the breeding season starts in February, a pair chooses a tall, old-growth tree to nest in. They may return to the same tree year after year, if possible.

After selecting a tree hollow that is roomy enough, the female seals herself in by using her droppings and those of her mate to cover the entrance from the inside. A small slit is left, through which the male provides food. When in human care, they may also use soft fruits such as bananas to cover the hole. While inside the hole, the female lays and then incubates on average two eggs.

Parental duty

The female relies solely on the male to provide her with food during the incubation period of 38-40 days. Safely ensconced in the tree hole, the female fully moults her feathers, rendering herself flightless. She remains confined even after the chicks are hatched. Only after around five weeks will she break out of her self-imposed imprisonment. Her chicks re-seal tree hole after she leaves, and remain in it for another two weeks.. Both parents work to provide for their growing young, feeding them through the slit. Even after the young emerge, their parents continue to feed them till they reach independence at around 15 weeks of age.

Meet Jary, our hornbill cancer warrior

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The keeper

Peter Teo

Deputy Head Keeper

Peter Teo

Deputy Head Keeper

Could you tell us about your daily routine here?

I usually reach the park at around 6.15am. Recently, I’ve had an expansion of job scope and I’ve been roped in for other projects. But my priority is always to feed the hornbills first, before the morning briefing for staff. It’s kind of like my promise to them, no matter how busy I am.

Peter Teo

Deputy Head Keeper

Peter Teo

Deputy Head Keeper

6.15am! Why do you come in so early?

We usually clear their feeding plates at around 5pm. Birds wake up very early. When we provide them with a good breakfast, they display better too. By the time we come up after our briefing, the weather is a bit hot and they may not feel like eating. I come back on my off days, too, to feed them.

Peter Teo

Deputy Head Keeper

Peter Teo

Deputy Head Keeper

Do you prepare their food by yourself?

Yes, as I am familiar with their breeding cycles. If a nesting pair is expecting a chick, I will cut their food into smaller pieces. 40 days from when the female seals herself in the nest, the male brings more food to her, so I provide more as well. They get fruit like papayas, apples and pears, supplemented with hornbill pellets.

Together, we protect wildlife

Hunted hornbills

This species is threatened by habitat destruction, especially the felling of old-growth trees required for nesting. Because of its size, distinctive calls, and predictable visits to the same feeding sites, it is an easy target for local hunters.

Prized for its meat, feathers, and casque, this bird is highly valued for its fat, which is used in medicine. Chicks are taken for the pet trade. Hunters targeting the helmeted hornbill for its casque may also take the great hornbill as 'bycatch'.

The IUCN Status

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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Great hornbill

Quick facts

Up to 50 years under human care

Mainly figs

Tall, evergreen forests

Mainland Southeast Asia

The great hornbills

Duels and duets

Egg incubation and care

Parental duty

The keeper

Peter Teo

Peter Teo

Could you tell us about your daily routine here?

Peter Teo

Peter Teo

6.15am! Why do you come in so early?

Peter Teo

Peter Teo

Do you prepare their food by yourself?

Together, we protect wildlife

Hunted hornbills

The IUCN Status

Visit us

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Great hornbill

Quick facts

Up to 50 years under human care

Mainly figs

Tall, evergreen forests

Mainland Southeast Asia

The great hornbills

Duels and duets

Egg incubation and care

Parental duty

Meet Jary, our hornbill cancer warrior

The keeper

Peter Teo

Peter Teo

Could you tell us about your daily routine here?

Peter Teo

Peter Teo

6.15am! Why do you come in so early?

Peter Teo

Peter Teo

Do you prepare their food by yourself?

Together, we protect wildlife

Hunted hornbills

The IUCN Status

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Data Deficient

Least Concern

Near Threatened

Vulnerable

Endangered

Critically Endangered

Extinct in the Wild

Extinct

Visit us

You might also like

Need help?

About Us

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Get involved

Careers

Press

Opening hours

Address

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