With its massive, down-curved bill and impressive casque (the helmet-like structure on top), this hornbill looks like a creature straight out of a storybook. Males are especially eye-catching, with gleaming black plumage, a golden-tan head and neck, and bright red eyes, while females are usually all black with striking blue eyes. Both sexes sport that oversized, banana-shaped bill, which might look heavy but is actually surprisingly light thanks to its hollow structure.

Like other hornbills, the female seals herself inside a tree hollow with mud, droppings, and food pulp, leaving only a narrow slit. She remains inside for months, safe from predators, while the male brings food through the slit to feed her and later the chicks. This unusual strategy provides protection during the vulnerable nesting period but also requires incredible cooperation between the pair. It’s one of nature’s most extreme examples of parental teamwork.

Blyth’s hornbills are also important seed dispersers in their rainforest homes. They feed on a wide range of fruits, especially figs, and swallow them whole before later regurgitating or excreting the seeds far from the parent tree. This helps regenerate forests, making them a keystone species for their ecosystems. They will also eat small animals, insects, and even reptiles, but fruits remain the bulk of their diet. Their loud wing beats and deep calls echoing through the canopy make them hard to miss, and when they fly overhead, their broad wings and striking silhouettes give them a prehistoric look.

There are plenty of quirky and fun facts about Blyth’s hornbill. Locals sometimes call them “kokomo birds” after their loud, laughing calls, which can carry across long distances in the forest. When they fly, the sound of their wings whooshing is so powerful it can be heard from afar—like a giant bird in flight from a fantasy film.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Indonesia

2020

Breeding

Papua New Guinea

2020

Breeding

Solomon Islands

2020

Breeding