Great Hornbill Spotted in Kerala’s Kakkampara

9 Jul 2025

Recently, a male Great Hornbill was spotted in Kakkampara near Ezhimala in Kerala, far from its usual forest habitats, sparking biodiversity hopes.

About the Great Hornbill (Malamuzhakki Vezhambal)

The Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is Kerala’s and Arunanchal Pradesh’s State bird and one of the largest members of the hornbill family.
- It is also known as the Concave-Casqued Hornbill.
Habitat: It is usually found in dense evergreen and moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats and parts of Northeast India.
- Common habitats in Kerala include Silent Valley, Aralam, Nelliampathy, Athirappilly, and Parambikulam.
Dietary Preference: Hornbills are omnivorous, but their diet is primarily frugivorous (fruit-based).
- The species plays a critical role as a seed disperser and ecological indicator.
Conservation Status: Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, it is also protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Other Hornbills of India

Hornbill Species	IUCN Status	Habitat/ Region
Indian Grey Hornbill	Least Concern	Plains and urban areas of peninsular and northern India
Malabar Grey Hornbill	Vulnerable	Endemic to Western Ghats (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu)
Malabar Pied Hornbill	Near Threatened	Western Ghats, Central and Eastern India (moist deciduous forests)
Oriental Pied Hornbill	Least Concern	North-East India, Sub-Himalayan foothills, Eastern and Central India
Rufous-necked Hornbill	Vulnerable	Eastern Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and parts of Nagaland and Bhutan
Wreathed Hornbill	Vulnerable	North-East India, especially Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and hill forests
Narcondam Hornbill (endemic)	Vulnerable	Narcondam Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

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