Wildlife SOS introduces a series “Things You Didn’t Know About” that explores fascinating and lesser-known facts about various species. Our writers will spotlight one inhabitant of the wild, unveiling its unique characteristics and roles in the ecosystem. In this feature, we turn our gaze to a charismatic and culturally significant bird often seen gliding silently between trees — the Indian grey hornbill.
If one has ever walked under the broad canopy of an Indian forest and heard a loud, cackling call echoing through the branches overhead, chances are that they are in the company of hornbills. With their large bills, a distinctive extension over their beak (casque), and recognisable shape, hornbills are some of the most interesting birds in the subcontinent. India hosts a total of nine hornbill species! While the iconic great hornbill is found in the Western Ghats and Northeast India, and the Malabar pied hornbill is in the peninsular forests, the Indian grey hornbill can be seen in the middle of our very own cities.
Across cultures, hornbills are seen as symbols of fertility — sustaining the continuity of life, and power — the courage to conquer obstacles. They also have an important ecological role, which is why they are called the “farmers of the forest”. Their vital function as seed dispersers helps trees regenerate and supports the biodiversity of the forest. Hornbills can swallow fruits whole and later excrete or regurgitate the seeds far from the parent tree, making sure that forests continually expand.
Why the Indian Grey Hornbill Matters
When people think of hornbills, they usually imagine the striking great hornbill with its bright yellow casque. However, the Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is just as impressive, even if it’s often ignored. Unlike its more colourful relatives, the grey hornbill dons a simple look with ash-grey feathers and a noticeable yet understated casque. It is also one of the most adaptable hornbills that can be found in forests, agricultural fields, and scrublands, and even in urban locales throughout India. Did you know that the Indian grey hornbill is also the state bird of Chandigarh? It is a wonderful way to honour the bird that sustains the health of green landscapes, weaving its significance into the country’s natural heritage.
If you’re new to birdwatching, the grey hornbill is interesting to observe! Their behaviour, such as their choice of fruit tree, the unique pattern of their flight, and their nesting routine, all give us a deeper understanding of this wonderful species. While many hornbills face threats from habitat loss and hunting, the Indian grey hornbill thrives in human-dominated areas as well. They are a living bridge that brings their story of ecological importance to our everyday lives. When we focus on one specific species, it is important to remember that this doesn’t imply putting the rest of the winged wonders down — it highlights how every bird we see in our cities plays an important role in the urban ecosystem.
The grey hornbill is a frugivore, feeding largely on fruits like figs, berries, and neem. But unlike smaller frugivorous birds such as barbets or bulbuls, hornbills are capable of consuming and dispersing much larger seeds. By flying long distances, hornbills increase the likelihood that excreted seedlings are not close to the parent tree. In essence, they are planting future forests with every flight! Ecologists call them a “mobile link” species, as they can connect fragmented ecosystems by widespread dispersal of seeds, thereby sustaining the tree population and a healthy habitat.
What makes hornbills even more extraordinary is their breeding behaviour. The female hornbill seals herself into a tree cavity using mud, droppings, and fruit pulp, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male passes food. She remains inside this hole for months, laying eggs, incubating them, and later raising the chicks while her mate tirelessly brings her fruits, insects, and even small reptiles.
For the Indian grey hornbill, this ritual can happen not only in dense forests, but also in the hollow of a tree in an urban park. Seeing this event in a city reminds us that wildness can coexist with us… if we let it. It shows the grey hornbill’s resilience and its ability to find a place, even as its natural habitat of forests diminishes. However, this remarkable capacity should also instantly remind us of how hornbills and several species of our planet are now being pushed to find solutions to survive outside their natural habitats.
Hornbills Face Threats
Hornbills face serious threats to their survival in India. The great hornbill and rufous-necked hornbill, and wreathed hornbill are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List due to hunting and loss of forest. Hornbills have been hunted for beaks, feathers, meat and for medicinal purposes. However, in Arunachal Pradesh, where this was most carried out, a certain tribe has taken on the responsibility of protecting their state bird, the great hornbill, and revive their population. Even the Indian grey hornbill, though commonly found, struggles with its own share of anthropogenic threats. Rapid urbanisation has brought with it the loss of old, developed trees with ideal spots for their nesting, fewer fruiting trees for food, and immense pollution.
Rescues of Indian grey hornbills from cities are not uncommon for Wildlife SOS; we are often informed on our helplines about injured, disoriented hornbills, and also of those caught in urban hazards. In June 2025, Wildlife SOS’s Rapid Response Unit was called to Lodhi Estate Road in Delhi, where a hornbill, drenched from the rains, was found in distress after a murder of crows attacked it. Thanks to the quick alert by a concerned citizen and the timely intervention of our team, the bird received veterinary care and was safely released after a few days.
Stories like this remind us that even the “farmers of the forest” need a helping hand, and Wildlife SOS remains committed to ensuring that Indian grey hornbills and countless other species continue to find safe spaces in our shared landscapes. By drawing attention to the Indian grey hornbill, we are reminding ourselves that conservation is not always about the remote and the exotic, it is also about recognising the value of what lives alongside us. If a hornbill can thrive in a park and still disperse seeds that may grow into the next one, then surely it deserves both admiration and protection.
So, the next time you hear the raucous call, don’t ignore it! It could be of a grey hornbill flying overhead, announcing its role of planting a future forest. And if you ever come across a hornbill in distress, don’t turn away. Call Wildlife SOS’s 24-hour emergency rescue helpline, available across four regions: Delhi-NCR (+91-9871963535), Agra & Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (+91-9917109666), Vadodara, Gujarat (+91-9825011117) and Jammu & Kashmir (+91-7006692300 / +91-9419778280), and become part of a life-saving story yourself.
Feature image: Atharva Pacharne/ Wildlife SOS
