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Anthracoceros albirostris
The Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is a species of hornbill in the Bucerotidae family. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The Oriental Pied Hornbill's diet includes wild fruit (esp. figs, genus Ficus) and other fruit such as rambutans, along with small reptiles such as lizards and frogs, and larger insects.
These birds nest in decaying trees where cavities are found. Because this specific type of trees are not commonly found in healthy forest, the hornbills have little or no suitable nests and will not mate. Hence their numbers were decreasing. But now, NParks have installed artificial nests for the hornbills to breed, and their population is slowly regaining its numbers.
Saw these two hornbills at the roundabout infront of the hsbc volunteer hub in pulau ubin, Singapore. It was really nice watching them fly, but sadly I couldn't capture it. They were really far away, and I was only armed with a digital camera, so I had to zoom alot and it is really pixelated. But still, I was quite happy to see them at ubin:) it's quite rare.
Spotted on May 28, 2013
Submitted on May 29, 2013
3 Comments
Lucky you! I think I actually saw this within my condo!
Hello Malcom:) thanks for understanding. I really like your pictures, and your life. must be interesting to be travelling around the world and being in the wild taking pictures:)
Natalie, your pictures are perfectly OK for Project Noah, the bird is identifiable and that is all that matters. We appreciate that many people cannot afford better cameras. I saw these birds at Pulau Ubin many years ago and I understand they can also be seen at Pasir Ris park although I did not see any there when I visited earlier this year. Lots of other interesting birds there though.