The Birds of Borneo

       Have you ever stopped short in a hike through the woods just to listen to the noises of the out-of-doors? Perhaps you have been startled by the sudden cry of an unfamiliar bird. Travelers in the forested jungles of Borneo, far from railroads, are startled sometimes by loud noises which sound very much like the approach of a train. Such a noise usually proves to be the flapping of the wings of a certain large bird, making its way among the tree tops.

Left are the bones of an African Hornbill called Ceratogymna
 atrata or black-casqued hornbill. Right is the uniquely
 long-tailed helmeted hornbill that lives in Borneo.

       Native Malay people call the bird "burong n'gam" because its loud repeated call sounds like this: "n'gam-gok, n'gam-gok." English speaking people have named the bird Hornbill because of its strange appearance. All Hornbills have very large bills and most of them have, in addition, a large growth on the head, just above and partly on the bill. This casque or helmet looks almost like a second bill, but the birds do not seem to have any use for this peculiar growth. Most Hornbills are fortunate in having hollow bills and casques, so that the burden is not great. In one group of Hornbills the resemblance to the nose-horn of a rhinoceros accounts for the name; Rhinoceros Hornbill. Hornbills have strong eyelashes, -- rare development among birds.

       The nesting habits of Bornean Hornbills are odd indeed. A pair of adults select a tree trunk which has a hollow in it fifteen or twenty feet above the ground. The female goes into the hole; and the male proceeds to wall up the entrance with mud, leaving a slit just wide enough so that his mate can poke out the tip of her bill to receive the food he brings. She remains a prisoner in the tree for six or eight weeks. During that time the eggs are laid and hatched and the baby birds develop their feathers. Newly hatched Hornbills are naked and helpless; but it does not take them long to grow large and very fat.

       All the time the mother and babies are imprisoned, the father bird is kept busy getting enough food for his hungry family. Luckily for him, Hornbills are not too particular in their diet. Fruits, nuts, and berries are their chief food; but insects, plant roots, eggs and small animals are often eaten in addition. The male Hornbill has a queer way of feeding his mate. Instead of carrying each bit of food to her in his bill he swallows it; and in the gizzard a skin sac grows around the food. When a sac is fully formed the male Hornbill flies to his mate and coughs it up into her bill. She, in turn, feeds the nestlings. Enough food is contained in one sac to last the female for a day or more; and so the male is not forced to give away the secret of her hiding place by visiting it too often. After weeks in cramped quarters it is not surprising that female Hornbills are unable to fly and can hardly stand up. Why some Hornbills habitually wall themselves up in prisons is a puzzle. Perhaps they need protection from monkeys and other jungle animals during the nesting season. Hornbills are also among the largest birds to be found in the jungles of Borneo.

The male and female crested fire-back pheasants.

       There are a number of Bornean birds which live almost entirely on the ground. Some of the most beautiful in plumage are the Fire-backed Pheasants. The patch of glossy red feathers on their back has earned for the birds their name. Pheasants are much like domestic chickens: but this kind is so shy that little is known of its habits. They spend the heat of the day hidden in the shade of dense jungle undergrowth, coming out in small parties toward evening to feed on berries, leaves and insects. They scratch in dirt like chickens and are fond of dusting themselves.

       A ground-loving bird quite different in family, habits and size is the little Pitta. It is about the size of a robin and has long legs and a very short tail. Its feathers are glossy. Pittas are excellent runners and when disturbed, they disappear like magic into the jungle. They build large dome-shaped nests on the ground or in low bushes. Worms, snails and insects are their favorite food. 

Left, Pittas. Center, Coucal. Right, Drongo

       The Coucal is another insect-eating bird of Borneo. The huge globe-shaped nest with its side entrance is often found in rice fields. A Coucal is a kind of Cuckoo. You can see one of them in Case 196. Notice how very long and straight the hind claws are. That is one of the chief differences between Coucals and ordinary Cuckoos.

       The Drongo is another common Bornean bird. You can see a large Racket-tailed Drongo in a case near the Pittas and Hornbills. Some say that it is the best singing bird of the East. Drongos feed entirely on insects, catching much of their prey on the wing. Fisher

Magnificent Birds of Borneo.