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The wildlife of Harapan Rainforest |
Home > Support us > Campaigns and appeals > Save the Sumatran rainforest > The wildlife of Harapan Rainforest > Birds of Harapan Rainforest
The birds of Harapan RainforestThe rainforest we are trying to save in central Sumatra – Harapan Rainforest – covers an area two-thirds the size of greater London. In this area there are at least 287 bird species – roughly the same number as breed in the whole of the British Isles. And that's only the beginning. We are confident that further wildlife surveys will reveal even more species. Some of the rainforest's birds are very rare and some, such as the Storm's stork, the short-toed coucal, large-billed blue flycatcher, crestless fireback and Wallace's hawk eagle depend on undisturbed habitat. Of those 287 bird species found in the forest, one is Endangered, seven are Vulnerable and 69 are Near-Threatened with extinction. Read on for more about some of the amazing birds found in Harapan Rainforest. Rhinoceros hornbill
The rhinoceros hornbill, found in Sumatra, the Malay Peninsular, Java and Borneo, is near-threatened with extinction. These large black and white-plumed birds measure almost a metre from tip to tail. With heads that bear a spectacular red and yellow casque (giving them their name) they not only look amazing, but when moving through the forest in flocks of up to 25 birds, create a spectacle of colour and sound for anyone lucky enough to see it. Rhinoceros hornbills nest in tall trees and can only form their nestholes in the trunks of more mature ones. Habitat destruction removes these tall, mature trees and is the greatest threat to hornbill populations. As we restore Harapan Rainforest, we expect the canopy to close up and more trees to rise above the canopy, providing this beautiful bird with more nestholes, and more breeding success in the area. A stronger rhinoceros hornbill population will be a sign of improved health of the forest and signal that we have broken the destructive cycle of neglect, burning and degradation which is the fate of much of Sumatra's logged lowland rainforest. Storm's stork
The Storm's stork is an incredibly rare and endangered bird of the rainforest. There are fewer than 500 left in the world. A secretive bird, it is white and black with a distinctive red bill and yellow patch around the eye. Storm's storks use the forest rivers to catch fish, and the rainforest trees to build solitary nests in. It also feeds on earthworms and insect larvae. The major threats to its existence are deforestation and the development of rivers as transport routes. Great Argus pheasant
The great Argus pheasant lives in the wildlife-rich Asian lowland forests of which Harapan Rainforest is a last remaining fragment. With a distinctive blue face and black hair-like feathers on the crown of its head, the male is among the largest of the pheasants, at up to 2 metres long. He clears an open spot in the forest floor and prepares a dancing ground on which to court females. Calling loudly to attract females, he then spreads his wings to reveal the eyespots. The great Argus feeds on the forest floor in the early morning and evening, foraging in the leaf litter to find a range of plants and insects to eat. They also use the forest floor to nest - females typically lay two eggs, in a scraping on the forest floor. The Argus lives in pristine rainforest, and also in selectively logged sites such as Harapan Rainforest. Near-threatened with extinction, the primary threat to the great Argus' survival on Sumatra is habitat destruction, ie, deforestation. |
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Storm's stork - RSPB - Alistair Gammell
Great Argus pheasant walking along forest floor - (RSPB)
Misty forest canopy in Sumatra - (BirdLife International)
Rhinoceros hornbill, face on - Terry Whittaker/FLPA (FLPA)
Sumatran tiger - Dave Watts
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)