The Sumba hornbill (''Rhyticeros everetti'') is a large bird in the Bucerotidae, or

hornbill Hornbills (Bucerotidae) are a family (biology), family of bird found in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia. They are characterized by a long, down-curved bill which is frequently brightly coloured and sometimes has a Casque (an ...

family. The scientific name commemorates British colonial administrator and zoological collector Alfred Hart Everett.

Description

It is a medium-sized, blackish hornbill, approximately 70 cm long. The male is dark reddish-brown on the crown and nape, with a paler neck. The female has entirely black plumage. Both sexes have a large, dull, yellowish bill with a

maroon Maroon ( US/ UK , Australia ) is a brownish crimson color that takes its name from the French word ''marron'', or chestnut. "Marron" is also one of the French translations for "brown". According to multiple dictionaries, there are var ...

patch at the base, a serrated casque, and an inflatable blue throat.

Distribution and habitat

An Indonesian endemic, the Sumba hornbill inhabits semi-evergreen forests of

Sumba Sumba ( id, Pulau Sumba) is an island in eastern Indonesia. It is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands and is in the province of East Nusa Tenggara. Sumba has an area of , and the population was 779,049 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as a ...

in the

Lesser Sunda Islands The Lesser Sunda Islands or nowadays known as Nusa Tenggara Islands ( id, Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara, formerly ) are an archipelago in Maritime Southeast Asia, north of Australia. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west they make up t ...

. It is uncommon and found in the lowlands at altitudes of up to .

Behaviour

The Sumba hornbill is a

monogamous Monogamy ( ) is a form of Dyad (sociology), dyadic Intimate relationship, relationship in which an individual has only one Significant other, partner during their lifetime. Alternately, only one partner at any one time (Monogamy#Serial monogamy, ...

species. Its diet consists mainly of fruits.

Status and conservation

Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range, small population size and overhunting in some areas, the Sumba hornbill is assessed as

Vulnerable Vulnerable may refer to: General * Vulnerability * Vulnerability (computing) * Vulnerable adult * Vulnerable species Music Albums * ''Vulnerable'' (Marvin Gaye album), 1997 * ''Vulnerable'' (Tricky album), 2003 * ''Vulnerable'' (The Used album) ...

on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. Part of its habitat is protected in the

Laiwangi Wanggameti National Park Laiwangi Wanggameti National Park is located on the island of Sumba in Indonesia. All forests types that exist on this island can be found in this national park. Some endemic plant species are protected in this national park, such as ''Syzygiu ...

and the

Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park is located on the island of Sumba in Indonesia. This national park consists lowland forests on steep slopes that rise up to ca. 600m.Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia"Manupeu-Tanah Daru National Park", retrieved 4 ...

References

BirdLife Species Factsheet

Red Data Book
{{Taxonbar, from=Q246763 Sumba hornbill Sumba hornbill Birds of Sumba Sumba hornbill