Indian Grey Hornbill vs Malabar Grey Hornbill

In short

The Indian Grey Hornbill and Malabar Grey Hornbill are similar in appearance but can be distinguished by bill color and casque prominence. The Malabar Grey Hornbill has a more orange or ivory-colored bill and lacks a prominent casque, while the Indian Grey Hornbill has a blackish bill with a more noticeable casque.

Identification tips

1. Bill Color: Malabar Grey Hornbill has an orange or ivory-colored bill, while Indian Grey Hornbill's bill is blackish. 2. Casque: Malabar Grey Hornbill lacks a prominent casque, unlike the Indian Grey Hornbill. 3. Plumage: Look for the whitish supercilium and grayer plumage in Malabar Grey Hornbill. 4. Tail Pattern: Indian Grey Hornbill has a black-and-white tipped tail, while the Malabar Grey Hornbill's tail is darker with an incomplete white terminal band. 5. Juveniles: Juvenile Indian Grey Hornbills may resemble adult Malabar Grey Hornbills but have paler underparts and a different tail pattern.

Size

The Malabar Grey Hornbill is slightly smaller, with males measuring 42.5–47.5 cm compared to the Indian Grey Hornbill's larger size.

Plumage

The Malabar Grey Hornbill has grayer plumage with a whitish supercilium and lacks dark ear coverts, while the Indian Grey Hornbill is paler sandy gray with a black-and-white tipped tail.

Habitat

Indian Grey Hornbills are found in drier parts of the Indian subcontinent, whereas Malabar Grey Hornbills are more common in the Western Ghats.