It is believed that Helmeted Hornbill (𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘹 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭 (Forster, 1781)) should be one of the birds that bird watchers want to encounter the most in Southeast Asia. It’s the largest and most bizarre Asian hornbill.
Hornbills are characterized by their long beaks and the protruding casques above. People named Helmeted Hornbill probably due to its casque that looks like a helmet the most among hornbills.
Different from the other hornbills whose casques are hollow inside, the casques of Helmeted Hornbill is solid, making its skull to form nearly 10% of the body weight. This helps its beak to work as a hammer. In nature, competition is fierce, especially for resources. When two Helmeted Hornbills meet, they would have an aerial casque-butting contest where they clash their heads in flight, competing for food.
We have two head specimens of Helmeted Hornbills, forfeited by AFCD in 2013 and then donated to us. Remember to appreciate these magnificent but functional body parts of this bird during your visits to the museum!
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