Oriental Pied Hornbill and Gebang Palm

Description:

Easily recognized from its large and curved yellow bill, mostly black, and white belly.

Habitat:

In Baluran National Park, present in high abundance in coastal forest and dry lowland savanna. Commonly found perching on the high tree with dense canopy, such as Syzygium polyanthum.

Notes:

This individual was found foraging on fruitful Gebang Palm (Corypha utan). Gebang is a hapaxanthic tree, only flowers once in its lifetime and dies subsequently. The leaves will fall, replaced by flowers, and bear massive fruits as shown on the fourth picture. Many frugivore birds forage on this tree, including Oriental Pied Hornbill.