Malabar Grey Hornbill

Overview

The Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) is a hornbill species endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India. Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, it is distinguished from similar species by its large bill lacking a casque. It is a significant seed disperser in its forest habitats.

Identification

• Large bird, 45 to 58 cm in length, with a long blackish tail tipped in white.
• Brown-grey wings with a white carpal patch and black primaries tipped with white.
• Grey underparts with white streaks and a cinnamon vent; grey back with a broad whitish superciliary band.
• Males possess a reddish bill with a yellow tip, while females have a plain yellow bill with black at the base of the lower mandible.
• Loud, distinctive calls described as hysterical cackling, laughing, and screeching.

Habitat

Endemic to the Western Ghats mountain range of India, stretching from Nashik in the north to the southernmost hills. Found primarily in dense forests and around rubber, arecanut, or coffee plantations at elevations ranging from 50 m to 1,500 m.

Diet

Mainly frugivorous, feeding on figs and other forest fruits, which makes them important seed dispersers. They also consume small vertebrates such as insects, rodents, and reptiles.

Did you know?

During the breeding season, the female incarcerates herself in the nest cavity by sealing the entrance with a cement made from her droppings, surviving solely on food brought by the male through a narrow aperture.