Indian Grey Hornbill

Indian Grey Hornbill Latest News

Gujarat has added another landmark achievement to its growing conservation story with the successful return of the Indian Grey Hornbill to the Gir forests after an absence of more than 60 years. 

About Indian Grey Hornbill

• The Indian gray hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is a tropical bird that can be found on the Indian subcontinent.
• It is commonly sighted in pairs.
• These birds are known to be arboreal, i.e. spend most of their time on tall trees, but may descend for food and to collect mud pellets for nesting. 
• Appearance
  • 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.
  • Unlike a lot of other birds, the male and female look similar.
• Habitat: It is mainly found in deciduous forests, open woodlands and thorn forest as well as rural cultivation and urban gardens and parks.
• Distribution: Indian subcontinent; found from north-east Pakistan and south Nepal east to north-west Bangladesh and south throughout most of India except in Assam.
• Behaviour: They have various social activities, including bill-grappling and aerial jousting. Indian grey hornbills are quite noisy producing squealing calls.
• Diet: The food is mainly fruits, particularly figs.
• Ecological Role: They play an essential role in the ecosystem as prime dispersers of seeds, helping regenerate forests by transporting seeds of fruit-bearing trees across large areas.
• Conservation status: IUCN: Least Concern.

Source: TH

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