Helmeted Hornbill
Rhinoplax vigil
The Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) is a legendary hornbill found in 2 countries, weighing about 2.9 kg. The helmeted hornbill is a very large bird in the hornbill family.
About the Helmeted Hornbill
The helmeted hornbill is a very large bird in the hornbill family. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand and Myanmar. The casque accounts for some 11% of its 3 kg weight. Unlike any other hornbill, the casque is almost solid, and is used in head-to-head combat among males. It is a belief among the Punan Bah that a large helmeted hornbill guards the river between life and death.
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How to identify it
It has mostly blackish plumage, except that the belly and legs are white and the tail is white with a black band near the tip of each feather. The tail is long and the two central tail feathers are much longer than the others, giving the bird a total length greater than that of any other hornbill species. The body length is 110–120 cm (43–47 in), not counting the tail feathers, which boost the length a further 50 cm (20 in). One male weighed 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) in weight while two females averaged about 2.7 kg (6.0 lb). Voice: Their call is two parts, the first consisting of a series of loud, intermittent barbet-like hoots, sometimes double-toned and over two dozen in number, which sound like the "toop" or "took" noise of an axe.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Indonesia.
When to see it
Best months: February, March, April, May, July, September, October, with peak activity in May. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Helmeted Hornbill?
- It has mostly blackish plumage, except that the belly and legs are white and the tail is white with a black band near the tip of each feather. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Helmeted Hornbill?
- The Helmeted Hornbill is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.9 kg.
- Where can you see a Helmeted Hornbill?
- The Helmeted Hornbill occurs in 2 countries, including Malaysia.
- What birds look similar to a Helmeted Hornbill?
- The Helmeted Hornbill is most easily confused with the Sulu Hornbill, the Mindoro Hornbill and the Sumba Hornbill.
- Is the Helmeted Hornbill endangered?
- The Helmeted Hornbill is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Helmeted Hornbill for real
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