Ocyceros birostris
The Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is a distinctive, medium-sized hornbill characterized by its dull grey plumage, long tail, and a prominent, horn-like casque atop a large, curved blackish bill. Measuring typically 45-61 cm (18-24 inches) in length and weighing between 200-400g (0.4-0.9 lbs), its most striking field marks include the whitish underside, grey-brown upperparts, and a noticeable black casque with a central furrow in males, which is smaller, more pointed, and sometimes...
This species primarily inhabits dry deciduous forests, open woodlands, thorn scrub, and increasingly, urban parks, gardens, and avenue trees across its range, from lowlands up to moderate elevations of 1,500 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, their diet largely consists of various wild fruits, especially figs, supplemented with insects (beetles, mantids), lizards, and small rodents, which are skillfully plucked from trees.
Indian Grey Hornbills are diurnal birds, often seen in pairs or small family groups, occasionally forming larger communal roosts. Their foraging strategy is predominantly arboreal; they glean fruits, insects, and small vertebrates from tree branches and foliage with their large bills. During the ...
The Indian Grey Hornbill is a resident species found widely across the Indian subcontinent. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends throughout most of mainland India, from the Himalayan foothills south to Sri Lanka (though not in Sri Lanka itself, where a different species occurs), and ...
Least Concern
- Indian Grey Hornbills are often called 'gardeners of the forest' due to their crucial role as seed dispersers, helping to regenerate plant life. - The female Indian Grey Hornbill self-imprisons herself inside a tree cavity for over two months during nesting, relying entirely on the male for foo...