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English: The rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) stands as a notable avian specimen distinguished by its impressive size and the distinct broad dark grooves adorning its upper mandible. This species finds its habitat across a vast geographic range spanning Bhutan, northeastern India, Myanmar, southern Yunnan, southeast Tibet, China, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

Characterized by its striking physical features, the male rufous-necked hornbill boasts a vibrant rufous head, neck, and underparts, while its female counterpart exhibits a sleek all-black plumage. Both sexes share common traits such as a sky-blue patch of facial skin, a vivid red throat pouch, and a tail adorned with contrasting black-and-white hues.

In its natural habitat, the rufous-necked hornbill thrives in lower montane regions, favoring remote forested ridges and hillsides within the elevation range of 600–1,800 meters. While typically found in subtropical primary evergreen and deciduous forests spanning altitudes between 300–2,400 meters, occasional sightings have been reported up to 2,900 meters, with localized occurrences as low as 150 meters.

An adept forager, the rufous-necked hornbill navigates the forest canopy in search of fruits, often observed in pairs or small groups. Its presence is marked by the resonant echoes of loud croaks, roars, and grunts, accompanied by a melodic yet powerful cuckoo- or pigeon-like call consisting of descending cooing notes: kup-kup … ku-kup-kup.

Despite its widespread distribution, the rufous-necked hornbill faces significant threats to its survival, particularly evident in its local extinction in Nepal attributed to hunting and habitat loss. Alarmingly, the global population now dwindles to fewer than 10,000 adult individuals remaining in the wild, underscoring the urgent need for conservation measures to safeguard its existence.

Recent sightings of these magnificent birds within the confines of Manas National Park, Assam, India.