Why are hornbills called the Farmers of the Forest?

Hornbills are an amazing group of birds. Their looks make them stand out, but it's what they do for the forest, not their crazy appearance, that makes them truely outstanding. They are large birds, with big powerful beaks that can break open even the hardest seed. Their guts can digest even the toughest skinned fruit. Even though they eat a variety of food including insects and lizards, their diet mostly consists of larger fruits and seeds. As a big bodied bird, they consume a large quantity of food at one time. They also fly great distances between their nesting and feeding areas. Combined together, the large body, strong beak, ability to eat and digest fruits and nuts other animals can't, and large range, allow them to spread numerous seeds over a large area. Add to that the large amount of natural fertilizer that gets expelled with those seeds and you have the Farmer of the Forest.

Their role in each ecosystem they inhabit is invaluable. They are a cornerstone species. Remove them from an ecosystem, and that ecosytem might collapse. Certain tree species may be dependent on them alone for seed dispersal, especially if there are no other large frugivorous birds. Many of the species they prefer are also the favorites of us humans. They don't just help nature, but they help people, by more widely dispersing delicious fruits that we need and enjoy.

The authors of Ecology and Conservation of Asian Hornbills: Farmers of the Forest, Kinnaird and O'Brien, coined the phrase based on their 14 years of research. Their book shows clearly the amazing impact hornbills have on their environment and the ecosystems they inhabit, clearly justifying the moniker, farmers of the forest.