Home › Aves › Bucerotidae › Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus)
Ocyceros
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Endemic to Western Ghats: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
DIET
Omnivorous
HABITAT
Evergreen and deciduous forests of Western Ghats
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Bucerotiformes
FAMILY
Bucerotidae
GENUS
Ocyceros
📋 Description
SIZE
45-50 cm long, 375-450 grams
COLORATION
Grey with blackish tail, pale yellow beak, no casque
ADAPTATIONS
Smaller beak for fruit picking, agile in trees
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Evergreen and deciduous forests of Western Ghats
DIET
Omnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Endemic to Western Ghats: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2-4 eggs in tree hollows, incubated 28-30 days
DIET DETAILS
Fruits, insects, small reptiles
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss, forest fragmentation
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Social Flocks: Flying in 10-bird groups their 60 cm bodies peck 1 kg of figs in Thattekad's forests with 10000 in Western Ghats. Their curved beaks signal maturity.
2
Ghats Endemic: Found only in Kerala's rainforests their 250-gram bodies nest in Anamalai's tree hollows. Deforestation threatens their 2000 sq km forest range.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala prime habitat hosts grey hornbill sightings
Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu forested hills offer grey hornbill sightings
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka evergreen forests have grey hornbill sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
November-March. Dry season improves visibility in forest canopies for hornbills.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Look for hornbills in fruiting trees at dawn with birding guides.
