Rufous-necked Hornbill

     

Male Rufous-necked Hornbill

       

            How to Identify Rufous-necked Hornbill

        The Rufous-necked Hornbill (Scientific Name: Aceros nipalenis) is a large-sized hornbill with males measuring between 99 and 122 cm and weighing 2,500 g. Females are smaller, weighing 2.27 kg. These species are sexually dimorphic, the male has reddish brown head, neck and underparts. The upperparts in male are black and the black wing has white-tipped outer primaries.
       The female rufous-necked hornbill has black head, neck and underparts. The juveniles have plumage similar to males but their bills lack dark ridges. The tail in adult is long and the basal half is black and the distal half is white.
      The bill is pale yellow in adult and has a row of vertical dark ridges on the upper mandible. The casque is almost absent. There is red gular skin. The irises are brownish red and orbital skin is pale blue. Their call is a loud barking "kok..kok" sound.

                Habit and habitat

       These rufous-necked hornbill species have high forest dependency.  The species is restricted to hill evergreen forest between 500 and 2,200 meters, but occasionally has been seen as low as 150 meters.The natural ecosystems of these hornbill species include tropical and subtropical moist mountain forests, tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, dense evergreen forests, broadleaved forests, deciduous foothill forests and dry woodlands.These rufous-necked hornbill species are non-migratory resident birds. Movements to lower altitudes during winter had been reported.
       Post breeding, the juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding within their range.
     

              Food

      It is primarily frugivorous; eating mainly berries, drupes, and capsular fruits of primary forest species belonging to Lauraceae, Meliaceae, Annonaceae and figs (Moraceae), but also eats some animal matter.

           Breeding

      These hornbills are monogamous species and probably territorial. It is mostly seen in pairs and appears to be more sedentary than other hornbill species. The breeding season of these rufous-necked hornbill species in northeast India is from March to June.  They nest in natural holes and hollows in old, tall, wide-girthed trees.
      The rufous-necked hornbill pair may use the same nesting site in consecutive breeding seasons. After entering the hollow, the female seals the hole with its droppings, mud and fruit pulp.
A small aperture is left for the male to transfer food to the mother and the chicks. The typical clutch contains one or two pale white eggs.

Female Rufous-necked Hornbill

              Distribution

        In Nepal, the Rufous-necked Hornbill is believed to be extinct. It is currently found in north-east India, Bhutan, east Myanmar, north and west Thailand, southern China, north Laos and north Vietnam. It is unconfirmed in Cambodia.
       Although it is found in many countries, the species is rare in most parts of its range, though in Bhutan it is more common. In India, its status is better only in some protected areas of Arunachal Pradesh such as the Namdapha Tiger Reserve and it is also seen in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and the higher areas of Pakke Tiger Reserve. It is also commonly seen in Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Neora Valley National Park in northern West Bengal.

            Conservation and survival

       The global population size of the rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) is estimated to be around 1500 to 7000 individual birds. The overall population trend of these species is considered to be decreasing. Throughout its range it is reported to be very rare. The life span is 19 years.
Listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, India.
       The main threats to this species includes hunting and to a lesser degree habitat loss, conversion, and modification due to logging, shifting cultivation, and settlements. It is rare in most parts of Arunachal Pradesh due to these human activities. The density of this species is about 7 individuals per km2 in the Namdapha Tiger Reserve, with approximately 1000 km2 of favorable habitat. The Namdapha Tiger Reserve is one of the most important areas for conservation of this species globally.
       Since it is heavily hunted and prized by several local tribal groups including the Nyishi, Wancho, Tangsa, Mishmi, Adi and Apatani in Arunachal Pradesh, especially in higher elevation sub-tropical evergreen forests where the Great and Wreathed Hornbills are less commonly seen. Forest loss is possibly a lesser threat for this species, because the condition and extent of forests at higher elevations in some areas are better than the foothill forests.
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