Photo: Neil Phillips / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Hornbill
Anthracoceros malayanus
Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Bucerotiformes
- Family Bucerotidae Hornbills
- Genus Anthracoceros
- Species malayanus
Where it lives
Malay Pen., Sumatra. Lingga Is. (east of central Sumatra), Bangka and Belitung (east of southern Sumatra) and Borneo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) belongs to the Bucerotidae family of the order Bucerotiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Malay Pen., Sumatra. Lingga Is. (e of c Sumatra), Bangka and Belitung (e of s Sumatra) and Borneo.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 28.9 cm and a tail of around 32 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 799,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Hornbill?
The Black Hornbill is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Black Hornbill live?
The Black Hornbill is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Malay Pen., Sumatra. Lingga Is. (e of c Sumatra), Bangka and Belitung (e of s Sumatra) and Borneo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black Hornbill belong to?
The Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Black Hornbill eat?
The Black Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Black Hornbill migrate?
The Black Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Hornbill endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Black Hornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Black Hornbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Hornbill's range?
The Black Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 799,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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