Hornbills & Crows

Click on any of the smaller photographs below, to enlarge the image and see the caption.

Malabar Pied Hornbill female (white around eye) - (Anthracoceros coronatus) This Hornbill lives in the forests and trees of the dry zone and is easier to spot than the smaller Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill. The female has white around the eye and more yellow on the large casque on the bill. (1,2)

Blue-faced Malkoha - (Rhopodytes viridirostris) This dark grey bird has blue skin aroud the eye and a green bill. The tail has white bars. (1,2)

Greater Coucal - (Centropus sinensis) Usually found feeding on the ground in woodland areas where it can fly up to a branch for safety. Most of the time it is on the ground feeding on insects or other small prey. (1,2)

Large-billed Crow on rail with a glint in its eye. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill female (L) & male (R) - (Tockus gingalensis) This Hornbill is unique to Sri Lanka. The bill does not have a casque. The female bill has more dark patches than the male. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill male (front) & female (behind) - (Tockus gingalensis) This Hornbill is found in lowland forests of both wet and dry zones. It prefers to hide in the middle of large trees where it feeds on wild fruits. It also eats small animals such as lizards, frogs and insects. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill male (front) & female (behind) - The breeding season is April to August and the nest is a hole high up in a tree. The female seals herself in, lays her eggs and moults. The male feeds her until her new feathers have grown. Then she breaks the seal and both parents feed the young chicks. (1,2)

Malabar Pied Hornbills both males (black around eye) - These are both males with a red iris and black around the eye, and black on the back of the casque. (1,2)

Malabar Pied Hornbill male (black around eye) - The back of the casque is also black. (1,2)

Malabar Pied Hornbill male (black around eye). (1,2)

Blue-faced Malkoha - (Rhopodytes viridirostris) It feeds on insects and fruit in the trees of the lowlands and low hills. (1,2)

Blue-faced Malkoha - Looking for insects and showing the white tail feathers. (1,2)

Blue-faced Malkoha close-up - This individual has grey and black feathers and white tail feathers. (1,2)

Large-billed Crow - (Corvus macrorhynchos) Large black crow with a large bill. Both sexes look the same. They can be found anywhere on the island. (1,2)

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Malabar Pied Hornbill female (white around eye)

Blue-faced Malkoha

Greater Coucal

Large-billed Crow on rail with a glint in its eye. (1,2)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill female (L) & male (R)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill male (front) & female (behind)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill male (front) & female (behind)

Malabar Pied Hornbills both males (black around eye)

Malabar Pied Hornbill male (black around eye)

Malabar Pied Hornbill male (black around eye). (1,2)

Blue-faced Malkoha

Blue-faced Malkoha

Blue-faced Malkoha close-up

Large-billed Crow

Large-billed Crow on rail in profile showing the size of its bill. (1,2)

Sri Lanka. So much more than you can see in a lifetime.

Bird References
1. Harrison J. A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2011.
2. Henry G.M. A Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 3rd edn. Colombo: Oxford University Press; 1998.