Great Pied Hornbill

The great hornbill is among Asia’s largest forest birds, reaching lengths of up to 130cm with an impressive wingspan exceeding 1.5 metres.

Males are noticeably larger than females and can weigh up to 4kg. With their immense size, heavy wingbeats and striking casque, great hornbills cut a dramatic figure as they move through the rainforest canopy.

Perched atop the hornbill’s enormous bill is its unmistakable casque — a hollow structure whose exact purpose remains uncertain. Scientists believe it may play a role in display and mate selection.

During aerial encounters, males have even been observed colliding casques mid-flight. The bright yellow colouration of the casque and bill comes not from pigment, but from oils carefully spread during preening.

One of our great pied hornbills at Bird Paradise, “Juliet”, carries a specially designed 3D-printed casque following veterinary treatment to support her long-term wellbeing.

The custom structure demonstrates how modern veterinary care and technology can assist in the management of large bird species under human care. Juliet herself appears entirely untroubled by the innovation — carrying on with the quiet confidence typical of a hornbill.

Great hornbills are usually encountered in pairs or small groups, though large gatherings may form around fruiting trees.

In parts of Bhutan, flocks numbering close to 200 birds have been recorded. While feeding, they move through branches with deliberate hops, searching for fruit, insects, lizards and small animals, often tossing prey into the air before swallowing it whole.

Great hornbills depend on large tracts of healthy forest, making them especially vulnerable to deforestation and habitat fragmentation.

Across parts of their range, they are also hunted for meat and for body parts such as casque and tail feathers, which are used as ornaments.

As forests disappear, so too do the towering trees and nesting sites these remarkable birds rely upon for survival.