Khao Sok is renowned for its rich wildlife, especially its diverse bird population. Visitors can spot species like sunbirds, chestnut-headed bee-eaters, common kingfishers, olive-backed kingfishers, ospreys, Brahminy kites, great hornbills, and many more.
Khao Sok National Park is home to nine of the world’s 57 hornbill species. These birds are known for their distinctive long, curved bills, often topped with a hollow casque. While the casque’s purpose is unclear, it’s believed to be linked to sexual selection. The name “hornbill” comes from the Greek word buceros, meaning “cow horn.” Males are typically larger than females, with up to 17% more weight and a 21% greater wingspan. Hornbills can live up to 30 years.
Species like the Black, Great, Helmeted, Rhinoceros, White-crowned, and Wrinkled Hornbills are classified as “near threatened” by the IUCN, while the Bushy-crested, Wreathed, and Oriental Pied Hornbills are considered of “least concern.” The Great and Helmeted Hornbills are also listed in CITES Appendix I, as their casques are sometimes carved like ivory.
Hornbills are monogamous and often mate for life. Before nesting, the male presents the female with a food gift and leads her to a nest — usually a hole in a tree or cliff face. The female enters the nest and seals the entrance with mud and organic material, leaving only a small slit for food and waste. This unique behavior protects the nest from predators.
Larger hornbill species typically lay two eggs, while smaller ones may lay up to eight. Incubation lasts 23 to 46 days, depending on the species. After six or seven weeks, the female breaks out of the sealed nest to help the male with feeding. Fledging takes 42 to 137 days, with sexual maturity occurring within a year for smaller species and up to 3–6 years for larger ones.
Khao Sok National Park is home to 18 species of woodpeckers, including the Great Slaty Woodpecker — the largest in the world, standing about 50 cm tall and weighing 450 g. Woodpeckers belong to the Picidae family, known for their strong bills used for drilling into trees and long, sticky tongues for extracting insects.
They have zygodactyl feet, with two toes facing forward and two backward, helping them grip tree trunks securely. Typically monogamous, woodpeckers nest in tree cavities, with the male often taking the lead in excavation. A clutch usually contains 2 to 5 white eggs, incubated by both parents for 11 to 14 days. The young fledge after 18 to 30 days, ready to explore the dense forests of Khao Sok.
Khao Sok National Park is home to 12 species of kingfishers, displaying a stunning range of colors. While many, like the common kingfisher, feature vibrant blues, others, such as the ruddy kingfisher, are a striking rusty red. Most species are classified as “Lower Risk, Least Concern,” except for the Rufous-collared Kingfisher, listed as “Near Threatened,” and the Blue-banded Kingfisher, considered “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List.
Kingfishers don’t build traditional nests. Instead, they dig burrows in riverbanks, tree holes, or sometimes even termite mounds. Clutches usually contain 2 to 7 eggs, with both parents sharing incubation duties. Fledging typically takes place three to eight weeks after hatching, giving visitors to Khao Sok a chance to spot these dazzling birds along the waterways.
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Phone: +66 96 652 9653
