Great Hornbill

How to identify it

1. Huge black-and-white hornbill with a yellow, U-shaped casque on top of the bill
2. White neck and broad white bands across the black wings and tail
3. Loud whooshing wingbeats audible from far away

Voice

Deep barking calls often given as a duet.

Listen to recordings on xeno-canto

Where to see it

• Kaeng Krachan, Thailand
• Western Ghats, India
• Eaglenest, India

Destination guides featuring this bird

Nepal Chitwan National Park Sal forest, tall grassland and braided rivers in the Terai: the richest lowland birding in Nepal.

1. JJanuary: Good
2. FFebruary: Best
3. MMarch: Best
4. AApril: Best
5. MMay: Poor or no data
6. JJune: Poor or no data
7. JJuly: Poor or no data
8. AAugust: Poor or no data
9. SSeptember: Poor or no data
10. OOctober: Good
11. NNovember: Good
12. DDecember: Good

Thailand Kaeng Krachan National Park Thailand's largest park: hornbills and pittas within a few hours of Bangkok.

1. JJanuary: Best
2. FFebruary: Best
3. MMarch: Best
4. AApril: Best
5. MMay: Poor or no data
6. JJune: Poor or no data
7. JJuly: Poor or no data
8. AAugust: Poor or no data
9. SSeptember: Poor or no data
10. OOctober: Poor or no data
11. NNovember: Good
12. DDecember: Good

Similar species

Rhinoceros Hornbill

red-and-yellow upturned casque, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula

Oriental Pied Hornbill

much smaller, black-and-white casque

Range and habitat

Lowlands of India to southwestern China, southeastern Asia, and Sumatra.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.