Status and Distribution of Four Species of Hornbills from North and Central Western Ghat-A Report

Abstract

The Western Ghats is one of the globally recognized Hot Spots for biodiversity in India (Mayers, 1990). It lies between 20° 12' N in the north of Navpur or somewhat north of river Tapati and Kanyakumari (8° 06' N, 77° 35' E) in the south and spread over six states. The Western Ghats complex encompasses southern Gujarat, western Maharashtra, Goa, western Karnataka, Kerala and part of Tamil Nadu (Fig. 1). It is located between the Tropical African (Ethiopian) and the IndoMalayan biogeographic regions. Physiographically the area is somewhat flattened or flat -topped range of hills rise from the Arabian Sea and runs more or less parallel with it. The major hill ranges are the Nilgiri, Annamalai, Palanis and Cardamom hills. The Western Ghats, being an important part of the monsoon land, is typically characterized by the development of the luxuriant tropical rainforests. The vegetation is influenced more by the abundance of seasonal rainfall than atmospheric temperature. This important biogeographic zone offers most suitable niche to the avifauna and it contains about 59% of Indian forms. Out of which 3 genera and 4 species of hornbills inhabit in Western Ghats. Hornbill is a large bird with considerably huge curved bills surmounted by casque in most of the species. It harbours in the semi-evergreen forests. The avifauna of Western Ghats and South India was studied by Davison (1883), Dewar (1904), Ali (1942-43), Ali (1969), Ali and Ripley (1970), Nicholas (1937). In recent years the birds are studied by Mahabal and Vasanth (2001), Pande et 01 (2003). This report deals with the distribution and abundance of our species of hornbills namely Malabar Grey Hornbill, Indian Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Great Pied Hornbill (Family Bucerodidae) in some areas of Western Ghats.