16-4-2024 PANNA TIGER RESERVE, INDIA - INDIAN GREY HORNBILL (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

Indian grey hornbills are found from the foothills of the Himalayas southwards, bounded to the west by the Indus system and to the east by the Ganges Delta. They don't migrate but may make local movements in the drier western region. Indian grey hornbills live in dry forests, savannas, rural gardens, and even in cities that have old avenue trees.

Indian grey hornbills are active during the day and usually spend time in pairs or small groups. They are almost completely arboreal, but very rarely descend to the ground to pick up fallen fruits, to dust bathe, or to pick up mud pellets to seal the nest cavity during the nesting period. They have various social activities, including bill-grappling and aerial jousting. Indian grey hornbills are quite noisy producing squealing calls, loud cackling, or short pipping-like sounds. Their flight is heavy and involves flapping interspersed with glides.

Indian grey hornbills are monogamous and form strong pair bonds. They typically breed between April and June and the clutch varies from 1 to 5 very symmetrical white eggs. Indian grey hornbills usually nest in tree hollows on tall trees. An existing hollow may be excavated further to suit. The female enters the nest hollow and seals the nest hole, leaving only a small vertical slit through which the male feeds her. The nest entrance is sealed by the female using its excreta and mud pellets supplied by the male. While inside the nest, the female molts her flight feathers and incubates the eggs. The male provides the nest inmates with a steady supply of bark pieces to ensure that the excreta is removed from the nest by absorption and adsorption and to help maintain the micro-climate within the next cavity. The incubation period lasts around 21 days and chicks fledge approximately 45 days after hatching. The regrowth of the female's feathers coincides with the maturity of the chicks, at which point the nest is broken open.

19-4-2024 KEN RIVERSIDE LODGE, INDIA - INDIAN GREY HORNBILL (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

The Indian gray hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is a tropical bird that can be found on the Indian subcontinent. It is mostly arboreal and is commonly seen in pairs. It is one of the few hornbill species found in urban areas in many cities where they can make use of large trees in avenues.

The Indian grey hornbill is a medium-sized bird with greyish-brown upper parts and a slight trace of a pale supercilium. The ear coverts are darker. The flight feathers of the wing are dark brown with a whitish tip. The tail has a white tip and a dark subterminal band. These birds have a red iris and the eyelids have eyelashes. The casque is short and pointed. 

The male has a larger casque on a dark bill, and the culmen and lower mandible are yellowish. The bare skin around the eye is dark in the male, but sometimes pale reddish in females. The female has a more yellowish bill with black on the basal half and on the casque. The juveniles lack the casque, and the bare skin around the eye is dull orange.

Indian grey hornbills are found from the foothills of the Himalayas southwards, bounded to the west by the Indus system and to the east by the Ganges Delta. They don't migrate but may make local movements in the drier western region. Indian grey hornbills live in dry forests, savannas, rural gardens, and even in cities that have old avenue trees.

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - INDIAN GREY HORNBILL (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

The Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) presents itself as a medium-sized bird, approximately 61 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly greyish brown, with a lighter grey or dull white underbelly. A distinctive feature is its black or dark grey horn, adorned with a casque that extends to the horn's curvature. This species is one of the few hornbills that have adapted to urban environments, utilizing large avenue trees for sustenance.

Males are identified by a larger casque atop a dark bill, with a yellowish culmen and lower mandible. The skin around their eyes is typically dark. Females, on the other hand, display a more yellowish bill with black on the basal half and casque. Juveniles are casque-less, with dull orange skin surrounding the eye.

The Indian grey hornbill is an arboreal creature, favoring the plains up to elevations of about 610 meters. It thrives in cities with old avenue trees, as well as in various natural habitats.

This species is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, ranging from the Himalayan foothills to the Ganges Delta, westward to the Indus system, and in urban areas with suitable tree cover.