Oriental Pied Hornbills in Singapore
About oriental pied hornbills in Singapore and what to do when you encounter them
Last updated 31 October 2025
What are oriental pied hornbills?
The Oriental Pied Hornbill is a common resident bird in Singapore and is protected under the Wildlife Act. These birds have black plumage with white patches, and a large yellow bill.
Whilst typically found in forest edges, gardens and parks, these birds can occasionally be spotted in urban environments as Singapore progresses towards becoming a City in Nature.
Distribution & Habitat
Oriental Pied Hornbills can be found across Southeast Asia, as well as South Asia and China. In Singapore, they inhabit green spaces and urban areas.
Behaviour
Oriental Pied Hornbills feed on small birds, mammals and fruits. Their presence in your estate indicates a healthy ecosystem that enables them to thrive.
These birds are not known to be aggressive towards humans.
What should I do when I encounter a hornbill?
If you come across hornbills that are injured, distressed or trapped, call our Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 and we will send professionals who are trained in handling and caring for wildlife to assist you.
Please avoid handling the hornbill yourself as this may cause further stress or injury to the animal.
Do not touch, chase, or corner the hornbill.
Observe the hornbill from a distance.
Do not feed the hornbill.
Feeding increases its reliance on humans for food and changes its natural foraging habits. Feeding it may encourage it to approach people for food, sometimes turning aggressive. This also causes its population to grow at an unnatural rate, affecting ecosystems that it is a part of. Feeding of all wildlife in Singapore is also prohibited under the Wildlife Act.
What should I do if I am affected by hornbills?
Knocking on windows
Residents living in the vicinity of a hornbill population may encounter them knocking on windows. While this may cause a loud noise, they do not mean any harm and are generally not aggressive towards humans. To mitigate this issue, residents may consider installing bird deterrent measures such as spikes or reflective objects on the window ledge.
This behaviour may also be an indication of people in the area feeding the hornbill. If you witness instances of wildlife feeding, please contact us through our online feedback form at https://www.avs.gov.sg/feedback and provide us with the timing and location of the feeding for follow-up.
Noise
Oriental pied hornbills are social animals and have a cackling-like call. Their call may be loud, but we seek your understanding towards our wild neighbours.
Predation of pet birds
As the diet of oriental pied hornbills includes small animals like birds, they may occasionally be attracted by and prey on small pet birds. Owners of small birds may choose to place the cages in a safer location which cannot be accessed by hornbills. They may also use cages with narrower openings to ensure the safety of their birds.
If you have further queries, please contact us through our online feedback form at https://www.avs.gov.sg/feedback.
Photo by Bryan Lim