From Opus

Ocyceros griseus

Photo by James Williams
Dandeli Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, Southern India

[edit] Identification

45cm. Brown-grey wings, black primary flight feathers, grey back, and whitish crown. The long tail is black with a white tip, and the underparts are white. Long curved bill.
Sexes are similar, but the male has an orange bill, whereas the female's is smaller and yellow. Immature birds have browner upperparts and a yellow bill.
Only species to confuse with is the Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris but note the lack of a casque and the black tail of the Malabar Grey Hornbill.

[edit] Distribution

South west India from Maharashtra (Mumbai) south to Kerala, mainly in the plains but up to 1600m. A Western Ghats endemic. Locally common but suffering from habitat loss.

[edit] Taxonomy

A member of the Hornbill family Bucerotidae and one of the three species of the genus Ocyceros, sometimes also placed in Tockus. Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis is sometimes included in this species. Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Broadleved evergreen and moist deciduous forest. Sometimes in gardens and plantations.

[edit] Behaviour

Usually found in the middle storey in small groups. Sometimes together with other frugivorous species like green pigeons or bulbuls. Often quite inconspicuous and allows close approaching.
Diet includes fruits such as figs, though it also eats small rodents, reptiles and insects.
Up to 4 white eggs are laid in a tree hole, which is blocked off during incubation with a cement made of mud, droppings and fruit pulp. There is only one narrow aperture, just big enough for the male to transfer food to the mother and the chicks.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages