Red-knobbed hornbill

Red-knobbed Hornbills are known by Indonesian locals as the allo or the rangkong.

Species

Knobbed Hornbill (Aceros cassidix)

Sulawesi Hornbill (Penelopides exarhatus)

Appearance

The Knobbed Hornbill is about three feet tall and long; although with its tail, it is four to five feet long. The bird is easily sighted due to its distinctive facial colors and markings. Its body is relatively plain however, consisting of black feathers with some white feathers peeking out at the end of the bird's tail. Despite its brilliant appearance the bird is known to shy away from humans and likes to hide in tall trees.

The Sulawesi Hornbill is slightly smaller but is most distinguished by a much smaller beak size and a lack of any white feathers. The male of the dwarf hornbill has a yellow head. This species lives in a lower level of the canopy, although both species are known to overlap and coexist.

Diet

85 percent of the hornbill's diet consists of figs found high in trees and available all year round. To supplement this they also eat insects and other fruits like magos and guayavas.

Range

The bird is a native of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and is a locally protected species (since 1999) due to small numbers. It is most commonly found in the Indonesia's Lore Lindu National Park.

Reproduction

These birds rely on holes in trees, rather than nests, for egg-bearing. If they cannot find one they will dig a hole with their feet and beaks. The female will live in this hole during incubation while the male leaves to gather food to bring back to the mother and children. The mother will forgo significant sustinance during this period to her own detriment.

The breeding season for the Knobbed Hornbill is between July and September while for Sulawesi Hornbill it is between April and July.

Predators

Giant Civet (Macrogalidia muschenbrcoeki)

Myth

Locals claim that seeing a flight of hornbills flying together forebears imminent rain.

References

• http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20030204.Q04