Austen’s Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus austeni is listed as near-threatened because of deforestation and poaching. It lives from India to Vietnam and Cambodia, and is present in China only in southeastern Tibet and southern Yunnan (Xishuangbanna). It inhabits deciduous and evergreen forests, to 1800 m. Like other hornbills, it feeds on fruit, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. Forms noisy flocks and is a cooperative breeder, with dominant breeding pair assisted by other adults. As is typical of hornbills, requires tree cavity for nest. Male upperparts brown, with tail and primaries tipped white. Cheeks and throat white. Belly rufous. Blue orbital skin, red in juvenile; iris brown. Female has uniformly rufous underparts. Bill pale, yellowish. Feet black. Piercing screams and yelps can sound eerily human. — Craig Brelsford
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
