The discovery of hornbill sculpture in Prambanan Temple in Central Java also proves that hornbills have a distinctive position in the traditional societies. Interactions between humans and hornbills also happened in Java Island. The Dayak community believe that the natural spirits protect the island of Kalimantan and often manifest themselves in the form of a giant hornbill known as the Bird Commander. The tribe often communicate with their ancestors through the mediation of hornbills. For example, they use hornbill feathers as many acceccories in the traditional dance costumes. In Kalimantan, Dayak tribe consider hornbills as a symbol of purity, power, and strength. Hornbills have a close relationship with the noble culture of Indonesian society. The helmeted hornbills need large branch near the nest hole, as a platform when transferring the food into the nest.
However, there are several species that have special requirements for nesting. Usually, hornbills will choose trees more than 40 cm in diameter and look for holes that are 20-50 meters above the ground. When the eggs hatch, the females break the cover of the nest and close it again until the chicks are ready to fly.īesides the unique nesting, hornbills are picky to find the trees to nest. The feathers will grow back when the break out the nest. The shedding of feathers is called moulting and some species moult during the initial stage of incubation. Afterwards, the females will shed their feathers to warm the eggs. The female hornbills that incubate the eggs will close the entrance of the nest with a wall made of mud with one narrow hole for the male to transfer the food and throw away droppings. The Bucerotinae have a very unique way of nesting. Other species include are Bushy-crested hornbill ( Anorrhinus galeritus), White-crowned hornbill ( Berenicornis comatus), Sunda wrinkled hornbill ( Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus), black hornblill ( Anthracoceros malayanus), Helmeted hornbill ( Rhinoplax vigil), Great hornbill ( Buceros bicornis) and Papuan hornbill ( Rhyticeros plicatus). In Java Island, there are 3 species: Wreathed hornbill ( Rhyticeros undulatus), Rhinoceros hornbill ( Buceros rhinoceros), Oriental pied-hornbill ( Anthracoceros albirostris). Especially in Indonesia, there are 13 species and among them, 3 are endemic to Indonesia: Knobbed hornbill ( Rhyticeros cassidix), Sulawesi hornbill ( Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus), and julang sumba Sumba hornbill ( Rhyticeros everetti). There are 62 species of hornbills spread across Africa, tropical Asia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Some species have a perceptible casque with bright colours.
The flapping wings sound loud and also make a distinctive sound.
In addition to the big body size, a hornbill also has a large, long, but light size beak. One of the big size bird species that adds up to the rich Indonesian fauna diversity is a hornbill.
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