Bushy-Crested Hornbill(Anorrhinus galeritus)
Bushy-crested hornbill measures 60-65 cm in length. Its beak is dark colored, wings and back black, while its tail is grayish dark brown, becoming increasingly black toward the tip. Belly grayish brown. This hornbill lacks feathers on their upper neck and around the eyes.
Male and female bushy-crested hornbill can be distinguished from the colors of their irises. Males have red iris while females have black irises. The bushy-crested hornbills are louder than any other hornbill species.
Habitat
This hornbill species usually lives in groups of 2 to 20 individuals. The bushy-crested hornbill is found throughout Southeast Asia in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, including Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands in tropical forests of the world.
Bushy-crested hornbills live in dense forests that provide them with their main source of food. Though rarely found in peat forests, they are even rarer in open forests such as coastal forest.
Diet
Bushy-crested hornbill’s diet comprises fruits such as figs (Ficus spp.) with high sugar content, as well as lipid-rich fruits from Meliaceae and Myristicaceae groups. Under certain conditions, the bushy-crested hornbill will eat animals like crickets, frogs, lizards, insects, and other preys.
Breeding
The bushy-crested hornbill is a monogamous species that mates for life. In the breeding season, the male will deliver food to the female and their young in their nest. Breeding period lasts 90 days: 60 days to nest and produce 2-3 chicks and 30 days incubation period. Because they live in groups, bushy-crested hornbills will divide the task of watching for, protecting and feeding the chick and female inside their nest. During the breeding season, the male will deliver food and 4-6 other individuals will assist him, even producing calls to protect the nest and territory.
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Near Threatened(NT). The global population size has not been quantified. The species is reported to be widespread, but occurring at low densities. In prime habitat, it can be locally common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction (del Hoyo et al. 2001). An analysis of deforestation between 2000 and 2012 estimated forest loss within the species's range at 26.9% over three generations (29 years). While the species's apparent tolerance of some habitat degradation might buffer the detrimental effects of deforestation to a certain degree, it is also threatened by hunting. Thus, the rate of decline is placed in the band 20-29% over three generations. Assuming the recent rate of decline remains constant, the species is projected to decline by 20-29% over the next three generations.
Threats
Forest destruction in the Sunda region has been extensive as a result of commercial and illegal logging, conversion to agriculture (particularly plantations) and increasing human population pressure. Even though the species can tolerate a moderate level of habitat degradation and selective logging, it is extirpated in intensively logged areas. Its preferred lowland forest habitat is particularly impacted by deforestation, even within protected areas. An analysis of forest loss from 2000 to 2012 estimated deforestation within the species's range at 26.9% over three generations. The species may also be taken as 'bycatch' by hunters targeting Helmeted Hornbill.
Conservation
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. Occurs in several protected areas in Sumatra (Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Way Kambas National Park and Kerinci-Seblat National Park) and Thailand (Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary and Budo Sungai Padi National Park).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct repeated surveys across the species's range to determine the magnitude of declines and rates of range contraction. Campaign for the protection of remaining tracts of forest throughout the species's range. Restrict hunting.