Rhinoceros Hornbill

This, the Rhinoceros Hornbill, Buceros rhinoceros, is one of the largest of all hornbills apart from the Ground Hornbills.  It reaches an overall length of 90 cm/3'.  It occurs in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.  There are three subspecies, varying in the length and the curvature of the 'horn'.  Interestingly, females are very similar to males, having equally impressive 'horns' ... actually called 'casques'.  These are hollow and thus not as heavy as they look.  These hornbills are mainly fruit eaters and live in tall rainforest.  As such, they're threatened by the ongoing destruction of their habitat, these days mainly for the sake of oil palm plantations.  This is a small watercolour painting.