Size & diagnostic markings:- 120 cm. This Hornbill is about 120 cm long. That's more like a Hornbill size but not all Hornbill are this big. The bill and casque is yellow , the nape and neck white otherwise the bird is black. The vent and tail also white with a broad central black band on the tail.

Distribution :-  It found in South west India,  then up to northern India and then east to south-western China and again down to Sumatra. This is a common bird for western and southern Thailand down to the Malay Peninsula. The birds in Peninsula are marginally smaller.

Habitats & preferences:- Though seen more often in heavily forest hills, this is a lowland Hornbill. Found in foothills. But the bird also likes to be among low hills and flying across valleys. Usually found in pair as well.

Though big but not an elusive bird. It is impossible to hunt down the bird. Only in accidental sightings when the bird is flying across the valley. Two obvious warning are given by their presence in the area. The first is the unmistakable loud calls they make, second the loud sound similar to the made by the blades of the helicopter.

Great Hornbill' 1

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Great Hornbill 5

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Great Hornbill 9

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Great Hornbill 11

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12.

The easiest place to meet up with this large bird is on the Island of Langkawi.

 If you do not want to travel that far! Then try Genting Highlands. Chances are there but rather remote. I made some videos in Langkawi but the quality were rather poor. Had better luck in Taiping. Unlike the Rhinoceros, the Great Hornbill hardly strayed far way from the mountain, was never seen near the Lake area. This one was at the foothills, near Tupai.

With Will would Wander