Another visit by the Great Hornbill

on 22nd August 2006

On the evening of 5th August 2006, Matt Quin was pleasantly surprised when a large bird landed on the balcony of his apartment at Bukit Tinggi. He went into the web and found out that it was a Great Hornbill (Buceros bicronis). The bird had a metal ring around its right foot and he presumed rightly that it was an escapee from somewhere.

The hornbill was very comfortable with his presence and stayed for about 15 minutes before it flew off to the balcony of the apartment above his. Matt’s final words: “A truly impressive bird!”

Yes, the Great Hornbill is truly impressive. This appears to be the only one left, probably an escapee from Jurong Bird Park many, many years ago. It is still flying around the Bukit Timah area, surprising Singaporeans who are generally not familiar with these birds with its presence.

In March this year the bird visited Stephen Lau’s apartment, also in the Bukit Timah area. Apparently it roosts at night within the grounds of Brian Ng’s condomonium. An earlier posting gives an account of it pairing with the Rhinoceros Hornbill (B. rhinoceros), another impressive bird, and checking on a cavity in an old tree for a potential nest.

Input and images courtesy of Matt Quin.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

5 responses

  1. Have you had any confirmation from Jurong Bird Park that they may have lost a hornbill? Could it be from a private collector? This is a great blog, I will be back.

  2. There are people who actually saw JBP (or something like that) on the metal tag when the Great Hornbill was perched outside an apartment window in the Eng Neo area sometime back. Yes, we did ask JBP whether they lost a hornbill. But they said no. Maybe this bird escaped a very, very long time ago? Maybe it is free ranging?

  3. I recall having one such hornbill perch on the ridge of my apartment’s balcony on some mornings, no less than 11 years ago. For all we know, it might be the same one since I was living around Bukit Timah. I’d be having breakfast before I went to school and sometimes I would toss it some fruits from my breakfast. Too bad I was in early pri sch then, too young to know what it was and how fortunate I was! I’ve moved since, and haven’t seen it again… 🙁

  4. I spotted a pair of Hornbills today around 6.30pm at Bt Timah Nature Reserve which resembled the one you displayed at your website.Could they have decided to stay in the reserve? Fascinating sight!

  5. Yes, the Great Hornbill has always been around in the Bt Timah area. Husky’s hornbill was probably the same that we are seeing today. But ‘fc’ pair? Can it be a Great and a Rhinoceros? As far as we know, there is only one Great left.

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