Hornbill Watch

Hornbills fly long distances searching for fruits to eat.

The female remains in the nest about four months, and the male hornbill works very hard bringing food for her and their chicks.

In India, we have nine species of hornbills and most live in dense forests.

Among Indian hornbills, the Narcondam hornbill and the Rufous-necked hornbill are considered endangered.

Hornbills love figs, wild berries and drupes, but they also eat beetles, lizards, snakes, crabs and even the occasional rat.

In many areas, hornbills are hunted for their big beak, casque, feathers, meat and fat.

Hornbills are important in keeping the forest alive and growing. If hornbills die, many forest trees may die too.

Hornbills look flashy because of their large beaks and casques, brilliantly colored throat pouches or the bright skin around their eyes.

Forests that are the hornbills' home are being cut down to make more space for agriculture or for timber.

Some hornbill species roost in big flocks numbering in tens or hundreds.

Celebrating Hornbills

June 2014 to February 2017 Update

Hornbills are fast disappearing along with their tropical forest habitat in India and other Asian countries. This project allows you to contribute towards their conservation by sharing hornbill sightings and images which will help us prioritise important sites for conservation.

You can share your hornbill sightings and images from across India, which will help prioritize important sites for conservation.

» Report Your Sighting Now!

Hornbills are unique birds. They get their name from the horn-like projection called a casque on top of their beak. They are larger than other forest birds. Hornbills are flashy with their over-sized beaks, bright skin around their eyes and long eyelashes. Most have a brilliantly coloured pouch of loose skin at their throat in which they carry fruits, their favourite food.

Hornbills are the 'farmers of the forest' as they disperse the seeds of many tropical trees and keep the forest alive. Unfortunately, most hornbill species are threatened by habitat loss and hunting.

This citizen science initiative allows you to participate and help. We are looking for records and images of the nine species found in India - Great Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Narcondam Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, White-throated Brown Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill and the Indian Grey Hornbill.

You can also read about the nine hornbill species in India as well as get general information regarding Asian hornbill research and conservation. This website only provides information on Asian hornbills.