Alternative names: White-crested Hornbill; Long-crested Hornbill
- Berenicornis comatus
Aceros comatus
Identification
75-80cm (29½-31½ in). A large, distinctive Hornbill
- Tall white spiky crest
- Black back, wings and thighs
- White, long graduated tail
- Black bill with yellowish wash at base
- Male with white head, crest, neck and underparts
- Female smaller and with black face, neck and whole body
Juveniles are all black with a broad white tail tip.
Distribution
From southern Burma and southern Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia and on Borneo and Sumatra. Also discovered in southwest Cambodia.
Uncommon in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Sometimes placed in genus Aceros.
Habitat
Primary semi-evergreen and evergreen forests, secondary woodland and plantations in areas with adjacent primary forest.
Usually below 900m, sometimes up to 1680m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects, snakes, lizards and small birds. Takes also fruits.
An inconspicuous species, foraging in dense tangled growth.
Breeding
Breeding little known. A co-operative breeder with a dominant female breeding and 2 to 7 other birds as helpers.
Movements
A resident and territorial species.
References
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334306
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) White-crowned Hornbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-crowned_Hornbill
