The malabar pied hornbill

[Shyamala Kumar]

The bird was very skittish and very difficult to focus also it flitted between the branches of some eucalyptus wilderness.D3200 55-300MM 300MM 1/200S F/5.6 ISO 400 Slightly cropped.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Buceros bicornis, Male - red eye being the distinguishing feature.

Nice sighting. Where was this photographed?

These are absolutely gorgeous birds. Please post the date/time and place of sighting so that it serves as a record.

[Debasis Bose]

Unfortunately, most of the 10 hornbill species in the subcontinent are now endangered due to fragmentation of forests, vanishing woodlands and mushrooming concrete jungles. These birds cannot live and procreate without the help of large trees. While the tree provides space to make a home in its wooden lair, the birds provide bird excreta rejected from the nest serving as manure for the tree. They are also excellent at dispersing seeds from the canopy to various locations propagating forest growth. A perfect example of interaction between two different organisms that is beneficial to both species, hence scientists the world over acknowledge that hornbills as the farmers of the forests.
Though hornbills sightings are not rare but definitely difficult to capture them in right frame. You have captured it very nicely and thanks for sharing.

[Shyamala Kumar]

This bird was photographed at Kabini during an evening safari 5.40pm on 21st May2013

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Nice sighting...not an easy catch

TFS
Roopak