Species profile
Helmeted Hornbill
Rhinoplax vigil
The helmeted hornbill is an apex bird of the primary lowland rainforest, known for its solid red casque, accelerating call and mid-air jousts.
Species profile
The giant hornbill
The 1.5-metre helmeted hornbill is a massive apex bird that requires the ancient emergent trees of Sabah's primary lowland rainforests. It features a solid red and yellow casque built for mid-air jousts and a heavy call that carries across the canopy.
Spend time on the walkways at Danum Valley and you might be lucky enough to see this critically endangered species. You will almost certainly hear a helmeted hornbill before you see one; direct sightings are a bonus for early risers.
Where it lives
The species maintains a resident presence in these destinations in Sabah: the Danum Valley Conservation Area, the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Tawau Hills Park and the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area. It rarely ventures into degraded secondary growth.
Viewing ethics
Using audio playback to lure the bird is strictly prohibited. Watch from a respectful distance, keep the specific location private and remove GPS coordinate tags before posting photographs online.
Where to stay
Related
Keep planning
Danum Valley
2.5 hours by road from Lahad Datu, Danum Valley is 438 square kilometres of lowland rainforest that was never logged with three very different places to stay inside it.
Tawau Hills Park
A 24-kilometre drive from Tawau town, this protected lowland and submontane rainforest offers outstanding birding, towering dipterocarps and rugged volcanic trails.
The Journal
Field notes and travel craft from the forest: the dawn chorus, mast fruiting, the figs, and what became of the rhino.
Species profile
Plan your birding trip
Tell the team your dates to arrange a specialist guide who can help you look for the helmeted hornbill in Sabah's primary rainforest.