Birdwatch: Loss of dense forests are driving away Oriental Pied Hornbills from Chandigarh

“It was the yellow beak of this bird, which was sitting on the high branch of a tree, that caught my eye. It just stayed long enough for me to get two-three clicks with my camera. Shortly after, it flew behind a kite which wanted to sit on the same tree.”

According to experts, the loss of dense forests and rampant felling of trees have forced these birds to shift their base from one place to another.

The Oriental Pied Hornbill, 55-60 cm in size, is a pied hornbill similar to the species of Indian Grey Hornbill which is Chandigarh’s state bird. Sightings of the bird have been recorded at Panjab University (PU), PGI, Chandigarh Bird Park, Morni Hills and Sukhna forest reserve.

Its ideal habitat includes forest, groves of mango trees and parks. Overall black in colour, it has a distinctive white eye-patch, yellow bill and a casque (found above the upper beak) which is flat from the front. It also has blue gular (throat) skin, white belly and outer tail feathers.

It is not easy to distinguish males and females as both genders look the same. Oriental Pied Hornbills breed in January and June and feed on wild fruits, insects and shellfish. They like to stay in the cavities of trees.