Rufous-necked Hornbill

Adult Male

West Bengal

Prashanta Bhattacharjee

The exact location is called Latpanchor,the upper part of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling district.It was perhaps the nesting time as the guide said.The male hornbill was carrying red coloured fruit from somewhere and carefully thrusting it into the nest,a hole in which the female was staying.Later the female too came out and the pair sat together on the adjacent tree.We kept safe distance so that the birds could not be disturbed at all.The female disappeared into the nest after sometime.The guide said the male was netting the opening of the nest.We were lucky to see the pair.After two or three days the female would be shut within the nest for three months.It was a beautiful experience to see this endangered species in its natural habitat and habit.