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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | U |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Vulnerable |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
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| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
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The breeding season extends from February to May in the Nilgiris and Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats (Mudappa 2000, Maheswaran 2002). In tropical wet evergreen forests of the Anamalai Hills, the hornbill was recorded nesting in 13 tree species such as Alseodaphne semecarpifolia, Hopea parviflora, Aglaia roxbhurghiana, Artocarpus sp., and Mimusops elengi, selecting nest trees of significantly larger diameter at breast height (DBH 60-89 cm), and greater height of the lowest branch than random trees (Mudappa and Kannan 1997, Mudappa 1998).Tropical semi-evergreen forest of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, nests were located in 19 tree species (over two-thirds of the nests were in Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Terminalia bellirica and T. crenulata) and in large trees (mean height = 36 ± 6 m, girth at breast height = 3 ± 1 m, nest height = 17 ± 6 m; Balasubramanian and Maheswaran [2002], Maheswaran & Balasubramanian [2003]). Nests were also observed in non-native trees like Eucalyptus and Grevillea. A clutch of 4 eggs are laid. Incubation period is about 40 days and fledgling period is 46 days (Mudappa 2000). About 5% of the nests were reported to become annually defunct due to change in nest entrance, fire, treefall etc. (Mudappa 2005). Fruits of liana species (and some shrubs), especially species in the plant families Lauraceae, Moraceae, Annonaceae, and Euphorbiaceae are consumed during breeding and non-breeding season (Mudappa 2000, Balasubramanian and Maheswaran 2002). This species also consumed animal matter during the breeding season (Mudappa 2000). Large flocks (up to 20) are sometimes noticed in coffee plantations, where shade trees such as Ficus spp. and Maesopsis emenii (non-native) offer fruits consumed by the hornbills.
The species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, from about Nashik in the north to the southernmost hills (Ali and Ripley 1983, eBird 2020). The species occurs from an elevation of about about 50 m above mean sea level near the coast (e.g., Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra) to around 1,500 m in the mountains (Mudappa and Raman 2009). In the southern Western Ghats, Raman and Mudappa (2003) reported that Malabar Grey Hornbills were seen in evergreen forests between 500 m and 900 m (sporadically to 1,100 m) elevation in Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, but frequently up to 1,200 m in the Anamalai Hills further north. In both sites, the estimated Malabar Grey Hornbill density decreased with elevation, with the density in rainforest fragments in the Anamalai Hills being additionally positively related to food tree species richness (Raman and Mudappa 2003).
Occurs in multiple protected areas throughout the Western Ghats. Listed as an endangered species under Schedule 1 of India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Research into species-specific drivers of recorded decline. Ensure compliance with forest protection regulations within protected areas, to prevent loss of large trees with suitable cavities, or large trees that will develop large cavities. Assess the adequacy of remote sensed data for detecting relevant habitat degradation/loss for this species. Consider whether there is benefit to the provision of artificial cavities to reduce resource limitation among the suite of species that require them.