This "explosive radiation coincided with a remarkable floral invasion of Asian rainforests from the Indian microcontinent. (2011) sequenced the cytochrome-b gene and discovered that all clades leading to frugivorous hornbills originated in the mid-Eocene ~48 million years ago. The fruits upon which this one has been dining appear the photo (above). Trumpeter Hornbill is a large species of central and southeastern forests in Africa. The rainforest hornbills are primarily frugivores, but supplement their diet with animal matter (lizards, snakes, arachnids) during nesting. I've combined it with my habitat shot at the location, and the collage is just below: I took a rather bad flight shot of Rhinoceros Hornbill that trip, as it flew over the Kinabatagan River. I was also fortunate to later see the Helmeted in Sumatra, deep in primary forest where I was eventually driven out by attacking leeches! On our Aug 2003 visit to Danum Valley, we saw 8 species, including both the Helmeted and the Rhinoceros. I saw 7 of these (plus heard the Helmeted) during a 3-day visit in Aug 1988. Nine species inhabit Danum Valley reserve in the north Borneo lowlands. I have visited two spots on earth that host a great diversity of hornbills, one of them in Asia. It is Rhinoceros Hornbill that is featured on the cover of Smythies' (1960) classic Birds of Borneo (right) - a favorite painting of mine. The Great Indian, the maniacal Helmeted, and the huge-billed Rhinoceros are perhaps the most impressive of the hornbills. Male Helmeted Hornbills are busy in defense of their territorial boundaries." Cackling loudly, they ram into one another like mountain sheep. Two huge birds then burst across the dome of the sky, their naked red heads extended and metre-long tail feathers trailing behind. More hoots follow at intervals, accelerating in tempo until they break suddenly into peals of maniacal laughter. Raindrops pattering on the foliage and distant rumble of a retreating thunderstorm form a backdrop of sound, though, which penetrates a single mournful hoot. The giant trees of the rainforest rise on each bank like cathedral spires, and the creepers which festoon them form cloisters that conceal the dark damp interior. What a treat to hear! This is a very distant shot of a male Helmeted Hornbill (below) in Borneo:Īlan Kemp, world authority on this family, must agree, for he begins his Hornbills book (1995) this way: "Imagine being on the tropical island of Borneo and drifting quietly down a stream in a dug-out canoe. Yet I will admit that I think of tropical Asia as the "land of the hornbill." So many of the spectacular huge hornbills are here, such as: a stunning male Red-necked Hornbill (above) in Bhutan, or Great Indian Hornbill (left) in in Indian foothills.Īnd some have incredible calls: those of the Helmeted Hornbill may be the most impressive bird vocalizations in the world: a series of hoots accelerate in speed and intensity until they break into peals of hysterical laughter. As we shall see below, there are some impressive hornbills in Africa.
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