From Opus

Aceros nipalensis

Photo by Yeshey Dorji
Location: Tamala, Central Bhutan

[edit] Identification

Very large with a downwardly curved bill and block-like casque on top of the head and bill. Males have a rufous head and underparts with black back and wings, females are dark brown to black all over. There is a ring of bare, blue skin around the red eyes and the bill is yellow with black and white stripes.

[edit] Distribution

Himilayan foothils of Bhutan, north-east India, Burma, southern Yunnan and south-east Tibet, China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

[edit] Taxonomy

This species is monotypic.^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Mature, dense, evergreen and broadleaved forest, mainly in the hills up to altitudes of 1,800 metres.

[edit] Behaviour

It nests in large trees. The female spends four months of every year incarcerated within a nest in a hollow tree. She seals herself into the hole, using semi-digested leaves, oil globules, and regurgitated mud. A slit-shaped entrance is left through which the male feeds the female and their chicks. 2 eggs are laid in April. After a total of 125 days of incarceration, the female breaks the nest's seal and leaves, the chicks following shortly afterwards.

The diet includes nutmegs, pears and figs, and also crabs, beetles, cicadas, lizards, earthworms, frogs and birds.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages