Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill

  

Ocyceros gingalensis

The Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill is a bird Endemic to Sri Lanka.

Identification - A large bird with a grey back, grey feathers, a brown crest and a long grey tail. A white throat, breast and a belly is present. Male has a yellow down curved large bill while the female has a large down curved black bill with a yellow marking on the center of the upper mandible.

Male

     Female 

Nesting - Nest in tree holes. When the female lay eggs inside the tree hole it is sealed by the male leaving a small hole for the feeding process. In this incubation period male feed the female with small fruits and seeds. After the eggs hatch female comes out breaking the mud wall and feed the chicks.   

                                                                                                                          Lovindu Kuruppu