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To the Beauty of Birds

The Great Hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill or Great Pied Hornbill, Buceros bicornis is one of the larger members of the hornbill family Bucerotidae. Great Hornbills are found in the forests of Nepal, India, Sumatra and Indonesia. Their impressive size and color have made them important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The Great Hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity. They are predominantly fruit eaters although they are opportunists and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds.

The most prominent feature of the hornbill is the bright yellow and black growth on top of its massive bill. Growth appears U-shaped when viewed from the front and the top is concave with two ridges along the sides that form points in the front, a reference to which is made in the Latin species epithet bicornis. This growth is hollow and serves no known purpose although they are believed to be the result of sexual selection.

These photos were taken at the San Francisco Zoo.

Great Hornbill

Great Hornbill 1741 B

Range Great Hornbill