Hornbills Vulnerable

Great Hornbill

Buceros bicornis

Type Single-species

Best Time Early morning (6-9am) when departing roost sites and actively feeding. Late afternoon (3-5pm) when returning to roost. Midday is typically quiet as birds rest in the canopy.

Peak Season December, February, January, March, November, October

Where Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland

The Great Hornbill is the largest of the hornbill species found in the Indian subcontinent, measuring up to 130 cm in length with a wingspan exceeding 150 cm. It inhabits the canopy of tropical and subtropical evergreen forests across the Western Ghats and the foothills of the Himalayas into Northeast India and mainland Southeast Asia.

This spectacular bird plays a crucial ecological role as a seed disperser. Its diet consists primarily of fruits, particularly figs, and a single Great Hornbill can disperse seeds across vast distances, earning it the title of "farmer of the forest." The species' dependence on large, old-growth trees for both food and nesting makes it an important indicator of forest health.

The Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is the largest and most spectacular of Asia’s hornbill species, and holds a position of extraordinary cultural significance across the tribal communities of Northeast India. With a wingspan exceeding 150 centimeters and a massive yellow casque crowning its bill, this bird is unmistakable in flight, its wingbeats producing a distinctive whooshing sound audible from considerable distance.

In Naga culture, the Great Hornbill is a sacred creature. Its feathers adorn the headdresses of accomplished warriors, and the bird features prominently in creation myths, folk songs, and clan totems. The Hornbill Festival, Nagaland’s premier cultural event, takes its name from this revered species. For the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, the hornbill headdress (bopia) is the most important article of ceremonial dress.

Habitat & Where to Find

Found in tropical and subtropical broadleaf evergreen forests, typically below 2,000 meters elevation. Requires large tracts of continuous forest with mature trees, both for fruiting food sources and for the large natural cavities needed for nesting. In Northeast India, found primarily in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.

In Northeast India, the most reliable locations include: Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh) - the Deban area is excellent; Pakke Tiger Reserve (Arunachal Pradesh) - home to the Pakke Hornbill Nest Adoption Program; Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (Arunachal Pradesh); Kaziranga National Park (Assam) - the Panbari and Kohora ranges; Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (Assam); and Intanki National Park (Nagaland).

Arunachal Pradesh Assam Nagaland

Field Notes

Identification Tips

Unmistakable due to its massive size and bright yellow casque (helmet-like structure) atop the bill. The casque is concave on top, distinguishing it from other hornbill species. Plumage is predominantly black with a white neck, wing bars, and tail. The tail is white with a broad black subterminal band. In flight, the wingbeats produce a loud, distinctive whooshing sound, often heard before the bird is seen.

Males have red irises and a black line on the base of the casque; females have white irises with a reddish orbital ring. Juveniles lack the developed casque of adults.

Behavior Notes

Great Hornbills are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds. Their most remarkable behavioral adaptation is their nesting strategy: the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using a mixture of mud, droppings, and fruit pulp, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male passes food. She remains sealed inside for approximately 3-4 months, during which time she lays eggs, incubates them, and molts her flight feathers. During this period, the male makes up to 70 feeding visits per day.

Outside of breeding season, Great Hornbills are social birds that roost communally, with flocks of up to 200 individuals gathering at favored roosting trees at dusk. Their morning departure from the roost is one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Eastern Himalayan forests, with birds launching sequentially into the dawn light.

In the Field

Ethical Guidelines

Maintain a minimum distance of 30 meters from feeding or roosting birds. Never approach nesting cavities, as disturbance can cause nest abandonment. Use blinds or hides at established observation points. Avoid using playback calls, which can disrupt territorial behavior and stress breeding pairs. If a guide offers to show a nest site, ensure it is a legitimate conservation-monitored nest and not one being disturbed for tourist viewing.

Conservation

Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The primary threats are habitat loss due to logging and agricultural expansion, and hunting for casques, feathers, and meat. In parts of Northeast India, hornbill feathers are culturally important for tribal ceremonial dress, creating a complex conservation challenge that requires culturally sensitive approaches.

Conservation programs in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have made significant progress by working with tribal communities to replace real hornbill feathers with artificial alternatives for ceremonial use. The Nagaland Hornbill Festival itself has become an important tool for conservation awareness, and several community-managed forests in the region now provide critical habitat protection.

See Them in the Wild

Hornbill Festival

10 Days

Great Hornbill

Habitat & Where to Find

Field Notes

Identification Tips

Behavior Notes

In the Field

Ethical Guidelines

Conservation

See Them in the Wild

Hornbill Festival

Tribes of Nagaland

Conservation Heroes

Jadav Payeng

Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba

Dr Purnima Devi and the Hargila Army