On 28th May 2017, Manfred encountered what looks like a family of Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris ), two adults and a juvenile perching on a television antenna at Farrer Drive, Singapore (above).
The above shows a male perching on the TV antenna with the female about to join him. The male has a roundish casque (an enlargement on top of the upper mandible). The casque of the female is smaller, sometimes with more black markings.
Note that the tail feathers are white except for the central feathers that are black. This is typical of the southern race, A. a. convexus. The wing feathers are all black with white tips (below).
The two adults are involved in allobilling, clasping of bills followed by sliding one pair against the other (images below). Such behavior aims at strengthening bonds between the pair
According to Manfred, “The three hornbills possibly came either from the forest beside the Singapore Botanical Gardens (Sultan of Johor land, which is closed to the public) or from the Botanical Gardens itself.
“We hear and see them from time to time, flying around. There is also a hornbill couple somewhere in or near Holland Village, but not localised yet. After d’Leedon was built, birds disappeared for some time, but now they are back plus the hornbills. There are kingfishers, different species of parrots, chickens (in the condo) and many others.”
Manfred
Singapore
15th July 2017
