Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris albirostris inhabits sliver of Chinese territory in southwest and southern Yunnan and southwest Guangxi. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR More open forest habitat than other hornbills, to 1400 m (4,590 ft.). Also in villages, often in noisy flocks, usually around large fruit trees, but eats more insects than other Asian hornbills. Nests in tree cavities, female sealed inside, male delivering food through a small opening; after female breaks out, the growing young are re-sealed in. ID Largely black above, including folded tail, with white trailing edge to flight feathers and outer tail feathers tipped white (as seen from beneath on folded tail). Upper breast black; thighs and belly white. BARE PARTS Has bare pale bluish area around eyes and similar white area at base of lower mandible. Cylindrical casque large, yellowish-white, with dark markings at base and front; smaller in female, very small in juvenile. Bill yellowish-white, also with black markings at base; smaller in female, with dark markings even at tip. Feet black. VOICE Squeaky, agitated calls; song a call repeated continuously, ending in a burst. — Craig Brelsford
THE HORNBILLS OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com covers all five members of the family Bucerotidae that occur in China. Click any link:
Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis
Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris
Austen’s Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus austeni
Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis
Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
