Window-Side Encounter Catches TikTok Attention
A woman in Singapore got an unexpected visit right outside her window — not one, but two hornbills peeking in.
In a TikTok video posted by @yourfrenchiebestie, she can be heard saying, “You won’t believe what’s outside my window right now,” as the birds linger curiously by the ledge.
The on-screen caption reads: “Only in Singapore…”
The clip quickly drew amused reactions.
Some joked the birds were “people-watching,” while others called the sighting “an honour.”
Three Hornbills Spotted Taking Shelter Nearby
Just days earlier, another video by @sbc.tiptop showed three hornbills perched along a building ledge, apparently taking shelter from the rain.
The calm, almost casual presence of the birds highlights how common such encounters have quietly become.
What once felt rare is now something people claim to see from office windows and homes alike.
From Rare Sightings to Neighbourhood Regulars
Not long ago, spotting an Oriental Pied Hornbill in Singapore would have been almost unheard of.
The species had disappeared locally by the late 19th century due to hunting and deforestation, which wiped out the large trees they needed to nest.
For years, hornbills were considered extinct in Singapore.
A Turning Point on Pulau Ubin
Things began to change in the 1990s, when two hornbills were spotted on Pulau Ubin, believed to have flown in from Malaysia.
The sighting sparked hope — but there was still a major problem. Suitable nesting trees were scarce, making natural breeding difficult.
Artificial Nests Helped Revive the Population
Conservationists stepped in with an innovative solution: artificial nest boxes.
These were designed to mimic the hornbill’s natural nesting behaviour, where the female seals herself inside a tree cavity while the male feeds her from outside.
The effort worked. The birds began breeding successfully again.
Now Part of Everyday Singapore Life
Today, hornbills can be found across parks, coastal areas, and increasingly, residential estates.
In August 2025, residents in Geylang and Toa Payoh reported hornbills visiting balconies and even laundry racks.
Watch the videos here:
@sbc.tiptop Hornbill taking rain shelter…continue 😌 #fyp #fypsg #fypbirds
@yourfrenchiebestie Not one but two!! Just another day in Singapore 😅 #sglife #wildlife #sgtiktok #fyp #singapore
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
“Very Interesting to See in Real Life”: Hornbill Seen Eating Chick on Holland Road
Once Lost Forever, Now Seen Daily: Singapore’s Hornbill Comeback Story
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