Hydrocissa coronata, Bodd.
141. :- Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 245; Butler, Deccan; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 383.
THE MALABAR PIED HORNBILL.
Length, 36; expanse, 39; wing, 11.25 to 13 ; tail, 12 to 14 ; bill from gape, 6 to 7.
Bill and part of the casque yellowish-white; base of both mandibles black, extending obliquely downwards and forwards, also the hind margin of the casque (in the male only) ; a large patch of the same color occupies the anterior three-fourths of the casque in old specimens, but never reaches downwards to the upper mandible, as in the next species ; casque very large and exceedingly compressed, laterally protruding far backward over the crown and its ridge terminating in an acute angle anteriorly, being prolonged considerably beyond the junction of the casque with the upper mandible ; irides crimson ; feet dark green.
The female has no black on the hind edge of the casque, and both bill and casque are slightly smaller.
The young have at first no black on the incipient casque, which appears and increases in quantity with the growth of the latter.
Black beneath from the breast; tips of the primaries and secondaries, and the three outer tail-feathers on each side, with more or less of the next pair, pure white.
Permanent resident and not uncommon in the forests near Belgaum and in the Kanara jungles. It also occurs along the Sahyadri range."
It has not been recorded from any other portion of the district.
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