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Oriental Pied Hornbill caught a bat

on 25th January 2017

OPH-bat [RobertChong]

Robert Chong’s image of an Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) with a bat clamped between its mandibles adds another item to the long list of foods it eats (above).

Hornbills are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plant and animal foods. However, each species of hornbill has its own preference – eating either mainly fruits or mainly small animals.

In the case of the Oriental Pied Hornbill, it eats mainly fruits – from at least 35 species of plants, according to Kemp (2001). See also HERE.

It also takes small animals like insects, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, scorpions, molluscs, snails, earthworms, lizards, birds and their eggs, rats and even fishes and crabs.

Robert Chong
Taman TAR, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
15th January 2017

References:
Kemp, A.C., 2001. Family Bucerotidae (Hornbills). In: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 6. Mousebirds to Hornbills. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 436-523.

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.

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.

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