The Great Hornbill Congregation in Anaimalai
September in the Anaimalai rainforests brings a spectacular gathering of Great Indian Hornbills. Join me to witness and photograph these canopy giants in their natural habitat.
A magnificent Great Indian Hornbill perched on a fruiting tree in the Anaimalais. This classic portrait showcases the bird's impressive size and vibrant casque.
A Great Indian Hornbill feasting on dragonflies. This footage, featured in the documentary 'Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness,' captures a rarely seen feeding behavior.
This video captures the incredible moment a Great Indian Hornbill feeds on Wandering Glider dragonflies, a behavior that was featured in a major wildlife documentary.
Two Great Indian Hornbills engage in a casque butting ritual. Witnessing and photographing these fascinating social interactions is a highlight of my hornbill expeditions.
A hornbill silhouetted against a misty, golden sky. This atmospheric shot captures the mystical feeling of the rainforest at dawn.
A Great Indian Hornbill in flight against a dark, stormy sky. This image demonstrates how to capture dramatic flight shots by using the weather to your advantage.
A pair of Great Indian Hornbills fly over a valley filled with morning mist in the Anaimalais, a shot that truly captures the magic of this pristine rainforest.
A hornbill feeding on berries, with a backdrop of vibrant red flowers creating a beautiful color contrast.
A clean portrait of a hornbill perched on a bare branch, allowing its unique profile and colors to stand out against the soft blue background of the mountains.
A close up of a hornbill tossing a berry into the air before swallowing it. Capturing these split second action moments is a rewarding challenge.
About The Great Hornbill Congregation
These hornbills aren't just sitting still. September is all about tracking them through the canopy to catch behavior like berry-tossing and flight sequences against the mist. I keep my batches to just four people, so we can move quietly through the forest and actually get into position before the birds decide to fly off.
The Anaimalai Tiger Reserve is one of the best places in India to photograph the Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis). Every September, the fruiting trees attract these birds in impressive numbers. Unlike general birding tours, my expeditions focus on specific behaviors: preening, berry-tossing, and their distinct flight patterns against the shifting mountain mist.
Why focus on the Anaimalais?
It's not just about the bird; it's about the environment. You’re shooting in low-light rainforest conditions, which forces you to get creative. I teach you how to manage exposure, track movement through thick foliage, and use the weather to your advantage, whether it’s capturing a silhouette in the golden hour or a detailed portrait when the light hits their vivid casques.
Practical Photography Details
We are in the field to observe, not just to shoot. I limit group sizes to four, which is non-negotiable because a larger group would spook the birds and make it impossible to navigate the narrow forest trails. We stay in local lodges near the forest edge to maximize our hours in the wild. Bring your long lenses—a 400mm or 600mm is ideal—and be ready for the rain. The forest is dynamic, and our schedule is flexible to match the hornbills' activity. If you're looking to master birds-in-flight or environmental portraiture, this is the time and place to do it.
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