From Opus

Photo by Rajiv Lather
Karnal, India, March 2005

Alternative name: Common Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros birostris

[edit] Identification

With 50cm a small, silvery-grey and white Hornbill.

• Brownish grey (north) to light grey (south) body with dull white belly
• Long tail
• Male with blackish bill and narrow casque with protruding front edge, bill tip and part of lower mandible yellow
• Grey bare skin around eye, eyes red-brown
• Female smaller, casque less protruding, browner iris
• Juveniles without casque, bill small and pale yellow

[edit] Similar species

Can only be confused with Malabar Grey Hornbill in the Western Ghats, but Malabar without casque and bill orange-yellow.

[edit] Distribution

	Mainly found in India, also in the southernmost parts of lowland Nepal and a summer visitor to Pakistan (mainly around Lahore). Common in most parts of its range.
	Legend • O. birostris; year-round • O. birostris; summer visitor Maps/Texts consulted1,2,3,4,5

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

The genus Ocyceros is sometimes included in genus Tockus.

[edit] Habitat

Wide variety of habitat. Prefers deciduous forest, parkland and open thorn-forest with fig trees. Also around rural cultivation and in gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds mainly on fruits (especially figs), but takes also insects, lizard, mice and nestlings of other species. Often seen flying from tree to tree, sometimes on the ground.

Breeding at the end of the dry season, mainly February or May to June. They usually form their nest in tree holes. The female stays inside the nest and seals the nest hole with droppings and food leaving only a small hole. Sometimes the male also delivers some mud. Lays 2-5 eggs. While inside the nest, the female will pluck out all her feathers and throw them outside the nest so that it can maintain the required space along with the growing chicks. The regrowth of the feathers in the female coincides almost with the maturity of the chicks at which point the nest is broken open. Possibly this species is a co-operative breeder with additional males helping to feed.

Generally a resident species but food-related movement can occur. Then seen in small flock with up to 30 birds.

[edit] References

1. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
2. Grimmett, R, C Inskipp, and T Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0713640045
3. Kazmierczak, K and B van Perlo. 2000. A Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0300079210
4. Kazmierczak, K and R Singh. 2001. A Birdwatcher's Guide to India. New Dehli: India Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-1871104080
5. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334306

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages