Indian Grey Hornbill:
In a public poll that was conducted by the Forest Department, Indian Grey Hornbill was chosen as the ‘Bird of Tirupattur’ district of Tamil Nadu by over 41,000 voters.
- It is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent.
- It is commonly sighted in pairs.
- These birds are known to be arboreal, e. spend most of their time on tall trees, but may descend for food and to collect mud pellets for nesting.
- 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.
- It Occurs in deciduous forests, open woodlands and thorn forest as well as rural cultivation and urban gardens and parks.
- Found in Indian subcontinent; found from north-east Pakistan and south Nepal east to north-west Bangladesh and south throughout most of India except in Assam.
- The food is mainly fruits, particularly figs.
- They play an essential role in the ecosystem as prime dispersers of seeds.
- Conservation status : IUCN: Least Concern.
