Hornbills are a very endearing group of medium to large birds with large bills and varying casques (growth above the bill). Nest is constructed in tree-holes, where the incubating female plasters herself and is fed by the male.
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is a medium pied hornbill with a mainly yellow casque and yellow bill and white tips to the outer tail feathers. With narrow white wing tips, belly and thighs, it is black all over. The bird has a black patch on the underside of the casque and a blue throat. The females are smaller with more rounded casques. They prey mainly on fruits and small animals such as snakes and lizards. They also feed on ort fish, crabs and snails.
The bird is commonly seen on North India. The habitat is dry dipterocarp, evergreen and mixed deciduous forests.
