Helmeted Hornbill

The Helmeted Hornbill, Rhinoplax vigil, is a very large bird in the hornbill family. It is found in the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo.

Picture of the Helmeted Hornbill has been licensed under a GFDL
Original source: Doug Janson
Author: Doug Janson
Permission: GNU Free Documentation License

The Helmeted Hornbill is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

The Helmeted Hornbill, Rhinoplax vigil, is a very large bird in the hornbill family. It is found in the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. It has mostly blackish plumage except that the belly and legs are white and the tail is white with each feather having a black band near the tip. More

However, the Helmeted Hornbill has a solid casque made of a material called hornbill ivory, which is greatly valued as a carving material in China and Japan. It is often used as a medium for the art of netsuke. Endangered Hornbills - * Narcondam Hornbill References - 1. ^ a b c d e f Kemp, Alan (1991). Forshaw, Joseph. ed. More

Photo Wanted The Helmeted Hornbill, Buceros (or Rhinoplax) vigil, is a very large bird in the hornbill family. The casque is the source of a valuable carving material, hornbill ivory. Indigenous peoples also use the central tail feathers to decorate dancing cloaks and head-dresses. The Punan people believe that a large Helmeted Hornbill guards the rivier between life and death. Distribution / Range: It is found in the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. More

Unique among hornbills, the Helmeted Hornbill has a casque of solid keratin called hornbill ivory, valued for carving jewelry and other small items. Hornbills, striking birds of Africa, Asia, and Indonesia, often have a casque, or epithema, on their upper bill. In most species the casque is hollow, but in one species, the Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil), it is a solid structure that makes a good material for carving. This is hornbill ivory, also known as golden jade, hoden, or ho-ting. More

Helmeted Hornbill Skull - The Helmeted Hornbill was once heavily hunted for its “horn” which was carved for religious ceremonies. The status of this species is now considered endangered and is protected in all of its range. The female hornbill will use mud to seal herself in a hallowed tree during nesting, allowing only a small opening where her mate can bring her food. More

Some, like the Helmeted Hornbill, have tail feathers up to a metre long (three feet). Most hornbill species are black and white but their bills and bare skin patches are bright shades of red, orange, and yellow. The birds add this colour themselves using oil from the preen gland. Hornbills are particularly memorable birds because of the structure called a casque located over the bill. More

Helmeted Hornbill Nestling - Hornbills of Belum-Temengor = MNSMalaysia 11 vidéos S'abonnerModifier l'abonnement Chargement… 138 vues 138 vues MNSMalaysia — 1 octobre 2009 — Helmeted Hornbill - Hornbills of Belum-Temengor, Malaysia www.hornbills.org MNSMalaysia — 1 octobre 2009 — Helmeted Hornbill - Hornbills of Belum-Temengor, Malaysia www.hornbills. More

This helmeted hornbill, which is quite imposing in many ways, is described and illustrated in several publications, the most authoritative of which is Kemp (1995, p.192-196 & Plate 8), who refers to it as the Great Helmeted Hornbill. The bird has also been called the solid-billed hornbill in English and Calao de Yelmo in Spanish as well as by the French and German terms noted directly below the heading of this entry. More

will not be afraid with the "horrible-looking" Helmeted Hornbill? This bird is a very large bird in the hornbill family. It is found in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. The body length is 95-120 cm (38-47 in). Males weigh 3.1 kg (6.8 lbs) and females weigh about 2.7 kg (5.9 lbs). Unlike other hornbills, the Helmeted Hornbill's casque is solid, and the skull including the casque and bill may constitute 10 percent of the bird's weight. More

The casque of the helmeted hornbill Rhinoplax vigil from Borneo is different from all other hornbill species: its dense, ivory-like casque makes up about 10 percent of the bird's body weight! Unfortunately, this has made it attractive to native islanders who kill the birds to use the heavy casques for ornamental carvings. More

The bizarre Helmeted Hornbill is also fairly easy to see. Hearing them is also rewarding as their call permeates the jungle for a long distance. Bushy-crested Hornbills, a very gregarious species, is very easy to see. Wreathed Hornbills and Plain-pouched Hornbills are frequently seen as well. Though difficult to see, the stunning White-crowned Hornbill also calls Khao Sok National Park its home. All of the hornbills found in Thailand are resident. More

The Helmeted Hornbill is a very large bird in the hornbill family. It is found in the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. This bird eats mostly fruit, especially figs. It may also use the casque as a weighted tool to dig into rotten wood and loose bark in search of insects and similar prey. Unlike many fruit-eating hornbills, it is sedentary and pairs maintain a territory. Males fight over territory on the wing, ramming each other with their casques. More

Order : Coraciiformes
Family : Bucerotidae
Genus : Rhinoplax
Species : vigil
Authority : (Forster, 1781)