The species occupies a diverse array of habitats from savannah to dry deciduous forests and urban landscapes (P. Balasubramanian in litt. 2020). It shows a remarkable adaptability to urban environment and was recorded nesting in a hole in a concrete building (Gadikar 2017).

The breeding season in the Eastern Ghats, India, extends from December to April (Santhoshkumar and Balasubramanian 2010). Nests are located in huge trees along streams and rivers; the preferred nesting trees include Melia dubia. Nest hole competition with parakeets and mynas was observed in the riparian habitat (Santhoshkumar and Balasubramanian 2010). During the breeding season, males frequently visit habitations to collect cattle dung, probably for plastering the nest hole (P. Balasubramanian in litt. 2020). The nest is solely sealed by the female using excreta, mud pellets and bark pieces provided by the male (Charde et al. 2011). The female lays 2-5 eggs, and the incubation period is 21 days followed by a 45 day fledging period (Charde et al. 2011, Poonswad et al. 2013). In one study in central India, the date of female entry into the nest was between 9^th March and 2^nd April. The average length of incarceration of the female inside the nest was 65 days. The total nesting cycle lasted around 93 days with 1 to 3 chicks fledging (Charde et al. 2011).

In the Eastern Ghats, the diet includes fruits (Ficus spp, Diospyros montana and Vitex altissima) and insects (Santhoshkumar and Balasubramanian 2014). The main food items in central India are fruits of  Ficus religiosa and F. benghalensis, followed by F. glomerata and F. lacor (P. Balasubramanian in litt. 2020). Fruits of Pithecelobium dulce, Manilkara hexandra, Syzygium cumini, Zizyphus mauritiana and Thevetia nerifolia are also delivered by the male to the nest inmates (Charde et al. 2011). The species is an important seed disperser of tree flora in the dry deciduous forests of Eastern Ghats; seeds dispersed by the hornbills showed very high germination efficiency (Santhoshkumar and Balasubramanian 2011).

The species is found almost throughout the entire Indian subcontinent. It occurs in India, except in the north-eastern part and higher up in the Himalaya, in north-eastern Pakistan, southern Nepal and north-western Bangladesh (Poonswad et al. 2013). The species is widely distributed in the Eastern Ghats of India (Balasubramanian et al. 2005). Important sites include Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Hogenakal, Sri Venkateswara National Park, Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary,  Gundlabrameshwaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarjuna sagar-Sri Sailam Tiger Reserve and Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary (Balasubramanian et al. 2005). It is one of the most-reported hornbill species in India, with many sightings on the citizen science platform Hornbill Watch reported from outside of protected areas and in parks and gardens of many cities (Datta et al. 2018). The species was previously considered resident in village groves of western Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh (Siddique et al. 2008). However, recent evidence suggests that the species is only a visitor to the country (S. U. Chowdhury in litt. 2020).

Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in many protected areas across India. A nursery for plants used by hornbills has been created in the Forest Department field station in Hasnur. Awareness campaigns among Forest Department personnel are carried out. In some areas in India, nest boxes have been installed to augment breeding, which are being used by the species (A. Datta in litt. 2020).