One of the most striking birds you’ll spot in the forests of India and Sri Lanka — a true tropical showstopper. With its bold black-and-white feathers, massive down-curved beak, and an impressive “casque” (a helmet-like bump) on top of its bill, it looks like a bird straight out of a fantasy story. The Malabar Pied Hornbill isn’t just stylish; it’s smart too. It glides through forests and open woodlands, always keeping an eye out for fruit, its favorite treat, though it won’t say no to a tasty insect or small reptile either.

One of the coolest things about Malabar Pied Hornbills is their incredible nesting behavior. When it’s time to raise a family, the female hornbill seals herself into a tree hole using mud, fruit pulp, and her own droppings — leaving only a tiny slit open! Through this small opening, the male passes food to her and the chicks for weeks until the babies are ready to leave the nest. This weird but wonderful strategy keeps the female and her chicks safe from predators while they grow.

Malabar Pied Hornbills also play a huge role as seed spreaders. Because they eat lots of fruit, especially figs, they help forests grow by spreading seeds far and wide. Without birds like them, tropical ecosystems would have a much harder time staying healthy and diverse. And with their loud cackling calls and flapping wingbeats, they’re often heard long before they’re seen — like a big, noisy, colorful presence flying through the green canopy.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

India

2016

Breeding

Sri Lanka

2016

Breeding