Photo StoryPublished : Oct 20, 2023Updated : Oct 23, 2023
An important seed disperser in deciduous forests, the Malabar pied hornbill has had to adapt and contend with the reality of dwindling natural habitats
Text by: Bhavya Iyer
An important seed disperser in deciduous forests, the Malabar pied hornbill has had to adapt and contend with the reality of dwindling natural habitats
I was in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, watching a pair of jackals feeding on a carcass when a loud beating of wings broke through the treetops. I looked up to find a male Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) settled on a fig tree. My heart leapt; it was my first sighting of this magnificent bird. Years later, I remember the wonderful sight vividly. This prehistoric-looking bird, perched on a tree, was regurgitating fruits and leaning forward to push it into a gash in the trunk. Presumably, it was feeding these fruits to its mate, who was sequestered in a cavity nest. During nesting, female hornbills wall themselves into holes in trees to lay their eggs and raise the chicks once they hatch, while the male keeps his mate and offspring fed and healthy. There is something so tender and heartwarming about how these hornbills care for one another.
India has nine species of hornbills, of which the Malabar pied hornbill is spread across parts of Central and Eastern India, in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bihar, and in the Western Ghats, in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Kerala.
They look similar to their northern cousin, the Oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), but can be differentiated by a larger body and greater head and casque size. Malabar pied hornbills feed mainly on fruits; figs are a favourite. These hornbills are often found by the margins of rainforests, venturing to plantations and other similar areas with fruiting trees in search of food. They also eat termites, fish, crabs, small reptiles, and even young birds and other small animals. With pristine forest habitats dwindling, most species face the dilemma of adapting to newer, more disturbed habitats — or facing extinction. Malabar pied hornbills appear to be among the more adaptable species.
has itchy feet that take her in search of wild landscapes, good food, and dark coffee. An alumnus of the Wildlife Institute of India, she has an interest in carnivore ecology and environmental policy.