{"id":47769,"date":"2016-09-25T08:40:14","date_gmt":"2016-09-25T00:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/?p=47769"},"modified":"2023-06-24T17:10:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-24T09:10:17","slug":"oriental-pied-hornbill-locking-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/2016\/09\/25\/oriental-pied-hornbill-locking-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"Oriental Pied Hornbill locking bills"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cPasir Ris Park is possibly the best place to observe Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris<\/em>) in Singapore now. At least 15 birds were counted at 2 different corners of Pasir Ris Park in mid June 2016. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOn 21 August, I found at least 7 of these magnificent hornbills foraging on top of a fruiting Angsana tree (Pterocarpus indicus<\/em>). They flew off above the canopy of the Angsana tree before I could approach nearer (below). <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cChasing after them led me to some tall slender trees where a few hornbills have perched and were probing deep into the foliage. Observed that they were plucking and eating fruits on these trees. A male holding a fruit harvested from the tree is attached (below). <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFound out later that these trees are known as Mast Trees (Polyalthia longifolia<\/em>) (below). <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTurning my attention to 2 females in an adjacent tree (below), \u2026 <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2026I was instantly rewarded when one of the birds leaped over to engage the other and bills were locked for a brief second (below). <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFemale “A” that had leapt across and was in mid-air returned back to where it was before. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSeconds later, it took another leap and bills were again locked. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFrom one of the photos, Female “B” had its bill wide opened with the head of Female “A”, which was in mid-air, appearing to be within its wide opened gape. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHowever, Female “A” was not flustered and it landed below Female “B”.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBoth birds were engaged for the next 10 seconds locking bills in various poses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I must stress that the locking of bills by these females did not appear to be fights as there seemed to be no aggression at all. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI would think that this locking of bills is a form of social interaction as I have even encountered juvenile siblings similarly locking bills. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis would suggest that the siblings were in social behaviour. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Would appreciate any opinions.”<\/p>\n