Fun Narcondam Hornbill Facts For Kids
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Ever heard of Narcondam? It is a small volcanic island in the Bay of Bengal.
It is speculated to be a dormant volcano, i.e. it has not erupted for more than a thousand years but is not extinct either.
The island records a limited species residing therein. The history of the island also highlighted that the island was uninhabited by humans since 1969. With just 20 individuals, specifically from the Coast Guard and Department of Special Armed Police residing on the island, it is off-limits for travelers and civilians.
Furthermore, the island of Narcondam records about 25-32 species of birds, and the Narcondam hornbill, Rhyticeros narcondami, is one of them. While the search data speculates that the bird originated in Africa, it is reported to be endemic to Narcondam in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
Thus, the bird is also named after the island. It is a species of hornbill with the smallest range and a stable population of about 300-650 birds.
It was first spotted and documented in 1873 by British botanist, Allan Octavian Hume. It is closely related to wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) and Blyth's hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus).
It is a large white-tailed bird portraying sexual dimorphism as sexes have distinct features. The diet of the birds comprises a variety of species of fruit, seed, invertebrate, and small reptile. Fruits are their primary food and thus are also referred to as frugivores.
They have recorded nesting on the trees in the undisturbed forest of the island. While the birds are listed as Vulnerable with a stable population, they are at risk of being Endangered due to mammals introduced on the island and the occurrence of natural disasters.
If the uniqueness of the Narcondam hornbill makes you interested to read more about similar species, you can read about reddish egret and green heron.
Narcondam Hornbill Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Narcondam hornbill?
The Narcondam hornbill, Rhyticeros narcondami, is one of the hornbill species endemic to the Indian island of Narcondam in the Bay of Bengal. The Indian subcontinent recorded nine species of hornbill but the birds are either threatened or Endangered due to hunting or habitat loss.
While the birds are closely related to wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) and Blyth's hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), the Papuan hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus) is speculated to be their sister species.
What class of animal does a Narcondam hornbill belong to?
The Narcondam hornbill, Rhyticeros narcondami, belongs to the class Aves, order Bucerotiformes, family Bucerotidae, and genus Rhyticeros. Among the 62 species of hornbill found in the world, the Narcondam hornbill has a confined distribution map and its population remains very small.
How many Narcondam hornbills are there in the world?
According to the search data, the distribution of Narcondam hornbills is confined within the island having an area of about 2.6 sq mi (6.8 sq km). The last search undertaken recorded about 434 birds in 2000. The birds are maintained by the Department of Environment and Forests under the Indian government.
Where does a Narcondam hornbill live?
While the Narcondam hornbills are endemic to the south of the Indian subcontinent, the Narcondam hornbill range map highlights the single island of Narcondam in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In 1972, an Indian ornithologist, Syed Abdulla Hussain visited the islands to explore more about the species. He captured two chicks of different sexes and planned a voyage to take the birds to Bombay, while the male died during the voyage, the female was speculated to escape to Madras but was never found.
The expedition reflected that birds prefer to inhabit areas that are largely devoid of human presence.
What is a Narcondam hornbill's habitat?
While the habitat of the Narcondam hornbill revolves around the natural mixed forest, birds nesting and breeding are recorded within undisturbed forest covered with large trees especially Sideroxylon and Sterculia. Mostly the habitat of the bird stretches around the island, mostly 2297 ft (700 m) above sea level.
Who do Narcondam hornbills live with?
Males and females are often found to live in pairs, especially during the breeding season. The birds often prefer a habitat that is largely devoid of human inhabitation or activities.
How long does a Narcondam hornbill live?
While the population of the hornbill species is stable in India, the Narcondam hornbill lifespan is yet not recorded. It is considered to live a healthy life as the population is speculated to be stable.
How do they reproduce?
The breeding season of the birds ranges from February to April. The hornbills nest in cavities of large trees. Furthermore, the birds prefer the undisturbed forest with large trees for nesting and breeding.
The females shed their flight feathers and live within walls during the chick-rearing and incubation period. On the other hand, the males forage food for the chicks and their mates. The birds over four years are recorded breeding.
What is their conservation status?
While among the species listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN List is the Narcondam hornbill, the Endangered species of hornbills are Mindoro hornbill and Visayan hornbill. On the other hand, despite the conservation status being listed as Vulnerable, the population of the species is stable.
Narcondam Hornbill Fun Facts
What do Narcondam hornbills look like?
The species of hornbill from the family Bucerotidae has distinct plumage as the bird portrays sexual dimorphism. While the head and the neck of the male are rufous, it has a dark black plumage with a while tail.
On the other hand, the female is all black with a long white tail. Furthermore, the iris of the male bird is orange-red and the iris of the female bird is olive-brown. On the other hand, the bill is pale brown.
We've been unable to source an image of a Narcondam Hornbill and have used an image of a Juvenile Oriental-pied Hornbill instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a Narcondam Hornbill, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.
How cute are they?
The rare species of small hornbill from the family Bucerotidae with a black body, rust-brown head and neck, and a pale bill are often considered adorable.
How do they communicate?
The call in-flight sounds like 'ka-ka-ka'. On the other hand, the birds sound like 'kokokokoko...ko' in the nest.
How big is a Narcondam hornbill?
Though the Narcondam hornbill wingspan is not recorded, its length varies up to 26 in (66 cm).
How fast can a Narcondam hornbill fly?
While the search data does not record the speed of a Narcondam hornbill, the peregrine falcon is the fastest bird around the world with a speed ranging within 200-242 mph (322-390 kph).
How much does a Narcondam hornbill weigh?
The Narcondam hornbill weighs up to 24.6-26.4 oz (700-750 g). On the other hand, the great hornbill, i.e. one of the heaviest hornbills around the world, is thrice the weight of the Narcondam hornbill. The kori bustard is speculated to be one of the heaviest species around the world.
What are the male and female names of the species?
The male and female species of hornbills do not have a sex-specific name.
What would you call a baby Narcondam hornbill?
The Narcondam hornbill baby does not have a specific name. Young birds are also called chicks, hatchlings, nestlings, or fledglings.
What do they eat?
The diet of the species of hornbills comprises fruit, seed, invertebrate, and small reptile. Fruits and figs make up the majority of their diet.
Are they dangerous?
While the Narcondam hornbill is not found near human habitations, the hornbills do not possess any danger to humans or the environment. Rather, it is also called 'farmers of the forest'.
Would they make a good pet?
No, the species does not make a good pet as it is quite not adaptive to human presence or captivity.
Did you know...
The history of the species goes back to when the birds were first documented by Allan Octavian Hume in 1873.
While the conservation of the species is of main concern as they are listed as Vulnerable, the population is speculated to be stable.
They are often considered cavity-nesters as they nest in cavities in the undisturbed tree.
Do Narcondam hornbills migrate?
While the bird remains confined to the Narcondam Island in India, there are speculations that the species of Narcondam hornbill migrate over very short distances.
How is the Narcondam hornbill important for the island's ecosystem?
The Narcondum hornbill is often called 'farmers of the forest' as it is thought to disperse seeds in a seed rain.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these sarus crane facts and tricolored heron facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Narcondam hornbill coloring pages.
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As a skilled content writer, Gurpuneet has written and managed engaging content for multiple websites and companies. Driven by a passion for helping young people achieve their full potential, she brings a unique perspective to her work. She is currently pursuing a degree in Economics from Sri Guru Gobind Singh College Of Commerce. With extensive experience as a tutor, Gurpuneet has made a significant impact by providing guidance and academic support to students. Her dedication extends beyond tutoring as she has volunteered with Action India, where she offered medical assistance and educational aid to underprivileged communities. Additionally, Gurpuneet has contributed to the creation of student study guides for various educational agencies.
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