Malabar Pied Hornbill

1. Bird Name
The bird’s English name is Malabar Pied Hornbill, and its scientific (Latin) name is Anthracoceros coronatus. This species is also commonly referred to as Lesser Pied Hornbill.

2. Appearance
The Malabar Pied Hornbill is mostly black and white in coloration. Notable features include its yellowish bill and casque, which are shaped like a horn. The casque, which is hollow and empty, displays a convex ridge on top, creating its distinctive appearance. The eyes are red, contrasting against the black backdrop of its body. This wild bird has white underparts, tail, and tips of the flight feathers. Despite its striking appearance, there is no noticeable difference between males and females, with both sexes boasting the same physical characters.

3. Size
The Malabar Pied Hornbill is a medium-sized bird, with an average length of 65 cm (about 26 inches). Its wingspan is typically around 35 inches, and it weighs between 600-900 grams, making it considerably lightweight considering its size.

4. Habitat & Distribution
The Malabar Pied Hornbill is native to Asia. The region it inhibits specifically encompasses the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This species can be found in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The Malabar Pied Hornbill favors open woodland habitats, plantations, and gardens, often spotted near the vicinity of human settlements.

5. Interesting Facts
Some intriguing facts about this bird species: they exhibit a unique nesting habit where the female bird is voluntarily incarcerated by the male during the egg incubation period. The male closes all entrances to the nest cavity with a plaster of mud, feces, and fruit pulp, leaving just a small hole. The male feeds the female and the young through this hole until they are ready to emerge. Also, Malabar Pied Hornbills are known to be monogamous and mate for life.

6. Diet
The diet of Malabar Pied Hornbill is omnivorous consisting of fruits, small mammals, birds, small reptiles, insects, and also human crops, particularly enjoying figs.

7. Behavior & Sounds
The Malabar Pied Hornbill boasts a display of intricate and fascinating behaviors. They engage in mutual preening and bill grappling. Also interestingly, a roosting group will face the same direction. The flight of the Malabar Pied Hornbill is direct and they have discernable wingbeats. Their calls are loud, cackling caws or chuckling sounds that can be heard from a distance, often in a series of about a dozen, like ‘kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk’.

8. Conservation Status
As of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Malabar Pied Hornbill is currently considered as Near Threatened. Major threats to the species include the destruction of its habitat, hunting, and trapping for the pet trade.

9. Lifespan
The average lifespan of the Malabar Pied Hornbill in the wild is about 35 years.

10. Additional Notes
The bird’s Malayalam name is കടുവമണ്ണാൻ (Kaduvamannan), translating to “forest king” due to its royal stature in the wild. Their role in ecosystems is significant as they are considered excellent seed dispersers, contributing to the growth of forests in their environment. They also help control pests by hunting small creatures. Interaction with humans can be negative as human activities are the primary threat to their survival. As such, it is crucial to maintain their habitat and protect this highly impressive and captivating species.