Indian grey hornbill
Indian Subcontinent is home of number of beautiful birds, some of the birds are considered under the birds of paradise family and ranked among the most beautiful creatures on earth such as Himalayan monal and Asian Paradise Flycatcher. After a good research, here is the list of India’s long tail birds.
Are you a bird lover and in search of a magnificent bird, like the tawny eagle and red kite? We have a perfect bird for you, the Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris).
last weekend when i was walking on roof , i have seen a bird on nearby pepal tree , a rare type of bird which have long beak and longer tail than usual bird . I have terrace garden at my home so occasionally in morning an d evening time i can see parrot , pigeon and other native species. But the bird which i have seen that day was unique for me.
So i have to search on google for bird who have longer beak and tail, specially which can be seen in Rajasthan area. google show me some long list of approx. fifteen number of bird like:
1. Asian Paradise Flycatcher
Indian Grey Hornbill ( Ocyceros birostris) is a fairly common hornbill species found only in the Indian subcontinent. It is a medium-sized hornbill with a brownish-grey body.
IUCN Status: Least Concern.
Diet: They feed on fruits and berries from fig trees, insects, reptiles (snakes, lizards), small birds (mostly fledglings) but on occasion can go after slightly bigger adult birds as well.
Significance: It plays an essential role in the ecosystem as prime dispersers of seeds. It is also 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.
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.
Threats: They are threatened primarily by habitat loss in the city and the cutting down of large trees, which is important for both food and nesting.
These birds are predominantly found in the Indian subcontinent. These are arboreal birds and spend the majority of their lives in tall trees. The range of these birds can be found in the forests, woodlands, and urban areas of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other neighboring countries. These birds are known to travel in pairs during the nesting season.
Size
These birds have a length of 20 in (50.8 cm). In comparison with pine warbler 5 in (12.7 cm), we can say that the former is almost four times larger.
Speed
The exact speed at which the Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) mostly flies is unknown. However, we can make an assumption of it based on the flying speed of the hornbill, which is around 18 mph (29 kph).
Weight
These birds weigh 0.8 lb (375 g).
These birds of the Bucerotidae family are very common and can be easily spotted feeding on insects under fig trees which are a staple part of their diet.
communication
These bird species are known to produce a variety of sounds mostly. These birds often make high-pitched calls and squeals in quick succession as probable calls and warnings to fellow birds against predators.
The female birds are known to seal the entrance of the nest with mud pellets and food. The bill of these birds comes in handy during nesting and fighting.
These birds are primarily grey in color, and their entire body is covered with gray feathers of different shades. The skin around the eyes is different for both adults and juveniles, thereby making them easily identifiable. The adults have red iris, while juveniles have orange eyes. Males are bigger in size and have a larger casque. The Indian grey hornbill bill is usually in a darker shade of yellow while the horn is black.
These birds also have long tails with pale edges, which helps in a steady flight from one fig tree to another. During the flight, calls are very common for these light gray or dull-colored birds.
Breeding
The breeding season, as well as the nesting season, is assumed to take place during February to June. Often the breeding pair is helped by additional male helping birds. The nests are usually built on trees where the female bird seals off the entrance of the nest with food, mud pellets, and their own droppings. 2-5 eggs are laid, and the female bird incubates these eggs for around 21 days. The small chicks are known to fledge from the nests at around a span of 45 days.
Specialty of hornbill
The only thing which makes hornbills special and separates them from other birds is their beaks or bills. These birds are known to have a heavy bill that is surrounded by powerful muscles. These hugely powerful and heavy bill proves to be an important tool for nest building in trees and fighting.
Are Indian grey hornbills endangered?
The Indian grey hornbill is listed as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List. The population has also been stable over the years, thereby making them a common bird in India. However, human activities like habitat destruction by the cutting of trees where nesting is important are known to harm these birds. These bird species are protected in many regions of India. The Forest Development department is responsible for holding awareness campaigns in many areas for the proper protection and conservation of the species.
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