Indian grey hornbill

The Indian gray hornbill is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent. It is mostly arboreal and is commonly sighted in pairs. It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly. The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending to the point of curvature of the horn. It is one of the few hornbill species found in urban areas in many cities where they are able to make use of large trees in avenues.

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Distribution

Region

Indian Subcontinent

Typical Environment

Occurs widely across India and into Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Prefers open woodlands, dry and moist deciduous forests, groves, riverine corridors, and agricultural edges. It readily uses orchards, plantations, and urban avenues with mature trees for feeding and nesting. The species avoids dense evergreen forest and very treeless landscapes but adapts well to human-modified habitats. Along rivers and in city parks, it often becomes quite conspicuous.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size50–60 cm

Wing Span60–70 cm

Male Weight0.38 kg

Female Weight0.34 kg

Life Expectancy12 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

This common hornbill thrives even in large cities if old, hollow-bearing trees are available. The female seals herself inside a tree cavity during nesting, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male passes food. It is a key seed disperser of native figs and other trees, helping regenerate forests and urban green spaces.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

strong flier with heavy wingbeats and short glides

Social Behavior

Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining loose flocks at fruiting trees. Monogamous pairs nest in natural tree cavities; the female seals the entrance with mud and droppings, leaving a slit for food delivery. The male provisions the female and chicks until the brood is ready to fledge.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Vocalizations are loud, cackling and squealing calls, often a repeated kak-kak-kak. Wingbeats produce an audible whoosh in flight, aiding detection even when birds are hidden in foliage.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Indian jungle crow

The Indian jungle crow is a species of crow found across the Indian subcontinent south of the Himalayas. It is very common and readily distinguished from the house crow, which has a grey neck. In the past the species was treated as a subspecies of another crow species, but vocalizations and evidence from ectoparasite co-evolution and phylogenetic evidence have led to it being considered as a distinct species in modern taxonomic treatments. It differs in its voice from the large-billed crow found in the higher elevations of the Himalayas and the eastern jungle crow overlaps in the eastern part of its range. In appearance, it can be difficult to distinguish from either of these species although the plumage tends to be more uniformly glossed in purple and has a longer bill with a fine tip and a less arched culmen. The Himalayan species has a slightly wedge-shaped tail, unlike the rounded tail of the Indian jungle crow and tends to glide a lot.

Indian nightjar

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Indian peafowl

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