Rufous-necked hornbill: One of Vietnam's most endangered birds
This is a large bird, measuring 90-120 cm in length and weighing 2.2-2.5 kg. The Vietnam Red Data Book lists this remarkable species as Critically Endangered, as it is hunted by local people for meat and its habitat has been fragmented by the destruction of primary forests.
Found in Vietnam's Northwest and North Central regions, the rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) is one of the most striking-looking birds in the country, and one of its most endangered
It is a large bird: adults measure 90-120 cm in length and weigh 2.2-2.5 kg. Its most distinctive feature is its large yellow bill, with black ridges at the base of the upper mandible
Rufous-necked hornbills have an orange pouch of bare skin under the chin and a ring of blue skin around the eye
The species is a resident of evergreen broadleaf forests at elevations of roughly 600-1,800 meters, though it is occasionally seen as low as 150 meters or as high as 2,200 meters
Some populations move seasonally between different forests and areas, feeding on berries
They nest in tree cavities 10-30 meters above the ground
In Vietnam, rufous-necked hornbills have been recorded in forests in Lào Cai, Lai Châu, the former Yên Bái province (now part of Lào Cai) and Nghệ An. Globally, the species ranges across South Asia, southern China and Southeast Asia
The bird's numbers are declining rapidly in Vietnam. The Vietnam Red Data Book lists this remarkable species as Critically Endangered
The main threats to the rufous-necked hornbill are hunting by local people for meat, the loss of nesting and foraging grounds, and habitat fragmentation as primary forests are destroyed. The species is protected in Vietnam, and hunting, trading or consuming it is illegal and can lead to criminal prosecution
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