Status and Distribution of Indian Grey Hornbill in Specific Sites of Lucknow City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Hornbills (Bucerotidae) have a huge bill with
a casque on upper mandible in some species. The casque
is smaller in female in some species. Indian Grey
Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is often found in dry
deciduous woods, although these habitats have been
disturbed by humans. Out of nine Hornbill species
Indian Grey Hornbill have been studied most in some
parts of India. Habitat destruction is the major cause of
disturbance for the hornbill’s population. Regular
observations for Status and Distribution of Indian Grey
Hornbill were made during January to April in 2023
using Point count Method. Total of 5 sites were included
for this study in Lucknow city. Few sites show good
status of Indian Grey Hornbill whereas others show less
number of species distribution. This may be because of
the habitat and the availability of Fig trees which is the
main diet of Indian Grey Hornbill. As hornbills depend
on tree cavities for nesting, prior to road widening
works, density of these birds was high on the trees of
near buildings. This study evaluated that, with the

removal of trees in the name of development and man-
made disturbance the number of these birds decreased

in Lucknow City. Habitats are threatened because of
wood extraction, road construction, clearing of forest for
power transmission lines and dying of nest trees.