Species Spotlight: Oriental Pied Hornbill Behaviour

Introduction

The Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is a captivating bird. Its unique features and amazing behaviour are increasingly well-known thanks to natural history productions such as Planet Earth 3. This article looks at many aspects of this species’ behaviour. It covers foraging, resting, grooming, socialising, aggression, vocalising, moving, mating, and nest building.

Foraging

Oriental pied hornbills often forage in flocks. They have a distinctive feeding behaviour. They use their large bills to pick up food items, toss them into the air, and then catch them in their mouths.

The oriental pied hornbill is an omnivorous bird with a diverse palate. This hornbill’s diet includes fruit. These include figs, palms, bananas, papaya, and tamarind. It also eats eggs and small animals. These include birds, lizards, snakes, bats, squirrels, and crabs. It also eats insects, arthropods and snails. But, it in turn civets and pythons prey upon by hornbills. Big raptors, such as the changeable hawk eagle, will prey on young oriental pied hornbills.

Oriental pied hornbills mirror their versatility in diet with their foraging habits. They search for food both in the trees and on the ground. When in the trees, they use their large, curved bills to pick fruits or catch prey. This bill is a key feature of the hornbill. It lets them reach fruits on distant branches and grab prey. These birds are as adept on the ground as they are in the canopy. They use their strong bills to dig into the earth, uncovering hidden morsels. Thus, their feeding habits showcase an extraordinary adaptation to their environment.

Resting Behaviour

Hornbills show a clear preference for high perches during their resting time. They stand upright on tall tree branches. This lets them see their surroundings. Even during downtime they stay alert to possible threats or opportunities. This shows their adaptability and resilience in the wild.

Grooming

Grooming is an essential part of the daily routine for the oriental pied hornbill. The hornbill uses its long, curved bill in a meticulous manner to preen and clean its feathers. This daily ritual helps the bird’s health. The bird gives special attention to the feathers of its wings and tail. The Oriental Pied Hornbill takes time each day to groom and maintain its feathers. This ensures they are in prime shape for flight. Good flight is vital. It helps with hunting and escaping predators in its natural habitat.

Oriental pied hornbills engage in an interesting activity known as social dust bathing. They first scoop up dust with their beaks. Then, they throw it over their bodies. It’s not only for amusement or social bonding; it plays a vital role in their health and hygiene. Dust bathing helps these birds keep their feathers in top condition. The dust absorbs extra oil. It also kills parasites. This keeps the birds’ feathers clean and healthy. This, in turn, supports their flight and well-being. Urban hornbills in Singapore use playground sandpits as sources of sand to bathe in.

Social Behaviour

Oriental pied hornbills are social creatures. They are very interactive and social. In their natural habitat, you can see these birds in pairs or small groups. They partake in various activities together. Besides foraging as a flock, these hornbills often play together. This reveals their playful and loving nature. These interactions often involve a lot of movement and noise. They can be fun to watch.

Mutual grooming is another common behavior. It strengthens their social bonds and adds to their group cohesion. This practice helps maintain their plumage. It also serves as a social activity that reinforces relationships within the group. Furthermore, communal roosting is another common practice observed amongst Oriental Pied Hornbills. This roosting behaviour is not only about safety in numbers during vulnerable sleep. It also builds the group’s social bonds, making them a tight community.

Juvenile oriental pied hornbills take part in social play. This behaviour includes activities like chasing and mock fights. It isn’t all about having fun. In fact, social play is essential to their growth and development. Playful activities help young birds develop their social skills. These skills are vital for survival and for finding their place within the flock. It also makes them stronger and quicker. They need these skills for hunting and evading predators. So playful behaviour is critical for the survival of young oriental pied hornbills.

Aggression

Aggression in oriental pied hornbills is usually related to territorial disputes. Chasing and bill-clashing are common aggressive behaviors. Birds often use them to defend their territory or to scare off threats to their nests.

Vocalisation

Hornbills have a diverse set of vocalisations. Their calls and songs serve many distinct purposes. These can range from alarm calls to alert others in their group to imminent danger. Then there are intricate mating calls to attract potential partners. Each type of vocalisation has its own unique characteristics and uses. Their vocal repertoire is a vital and integral part of their behavioural profile. Each vocalisation has its own purpose and meaning in their complex social lives. Communication is vital for the hornbill’s survival. It is also key for its reproduction.

Locomotion

Hornbills are adept at both walking and flying. On the ground, they have a unique hop-like gait, moving with a captivating agility. This terrestrial mobility doesn’t compromise their flying skills. They exhibit powerful, direct flights, made possible by their wide, rounded wings. These wings are evidence of their evolutionary adaptability. They allow them to travel long distances in the sky with ease and accuracy.

Home Range and Territorial Behaviour

Oriental pied hornbills are territorial birds. They have a clear home range, which they defend. Within their home range they usually have feeding and nesting sites. These sites ensure enough resources for survival and reproduction.

Reproductive Behaviour

A breeding pair nests once a year. Before breeding, the pair starts courtship feeding. This is often accompanied by a series of intimate interactions between the male and female. They spend a lot of time perching next to each other on a branch. They preen their feathers in unison. Paying even more attention to their appearance than usual. Their body language is fascinating during this period. The female flattens her body position and tilts her head back. Then she fluffs up the feathers on her head (a process known as piloerection). This acts as a queue for the pair to indulge in more intimate behaviour. These behaviours strengthen their bond. They are key to ensuring the success of their mating and the future of their offspring.

They scout their territory for a suitable nesting spot. The male hornbill guides the female to the spot, alternating between a perch and the nest. He also needs to prove his ability to feed her once she’s in the nest. He shows his feeding skills at the nest, placing food like fruit and insects inside. This can last for days or even weeks. But once she’s convinced, she’ll inspect it.

Nest Building Behaviour

Building a nest is a careful process for oriental pied hornbills. They can be very picky about their nesting sites. This helps them to ensure their offspring’s safety and survival. They often choose high cavities in tall, sturdy trees. This selection provides a high vantage point. It keeps them safe from predators. Nest predation is a significant threat to oriental pied hornbills. Predators such as snakes, monkeys, and other birds will target their nests. So a cavity in the trunk of a tree provides a hidden and secure home for their young.

They use soil for sealing the tree hole nest. The male helps to collect the soil from the ground. Urban hornbills in Singapore take advantage of construction sites in their territory as a reliable source mud. He uses his powerful bill to dig up the soil. He then carries it back to the nest hole. The female then applies the sealant to the sides of the nest. It is like watching a master craftswoman at work.

The mud forms a protective casing around the nest’s entrance. This casing serves as a barrier. The design of this barrier is particularly interesting. During the incubation period, the female is in the nest. It shields the vulnerable female and her eggs from threats and harsh conditions. The female hornbill undergoes a unique process of moulting inside the nest. While sealed inside the nest, she sheds and regrows her flight feathers.

The nest hole has a small enough space for the male to pass food through. The female hornbill relies on the male for food when she is in the nest. The unique design of the cavity nest ensures that the male can feed the incubating female well. The male flies to the nest several times a day, bringing food for the female and young. Food includes figs, eggs, insects and reptiles. All the necessary nutrients she needs during this crucial phase. After a month of incubation and two months of cohabitation inside a tree trunk, the female removes the soil from the nest entrance. Then, the offspring leave the nest. They explore their new surroundings as a close family unit for several weeks.

Conclusion

The oriental pied hornbill has distinctive behaviours and a captivating lifestyle. Understanding their behaviour enriches our appreciation for these birds. It also aids in their conservation.