Calao of Ceylon

The calao of Ceylon ( Ocyceros gingalensis ), is an endemic bird of the Sri Lanka.

History of the species

The calao of Ceylon was described scientifically for the first time by George Kearsley Shaw (1751-1813) in 1811 in its work General Zoology gold systematic natural history , published in fourteen volumes between 1800 and 1826 (volume 8, first part - Birds, page 37).

This bird was regarded a time as under species of Ocyceros griseus , form near alive in India, and is now recognized like a species with whole share. It is currently classified, with two other species, in the kind Ocyceros .

Synonyms

Among the names which the bird in the past carried, one finds inter alia:

Tockus griseus gingalensis
Tockus gingalensis

Distribution

This species is endemic of the island of Sri Lanka (Ceylon until 1972).

Morphology

Approximately 45 cm.

Gray wings, rémiges primary black, black back, brown crown, long tail noirâtre at the white sides. Below white. No the helmet with the nozzle.

The sexes are similar, with this close the nozzle of the female is entirely of cream-coloured color, whereas that of the male is black with a cream-coloured band.

Biology and behavior

Bird with the slow and powerful flight, most of the time in couple, bands of the fig trees when the figs are abundant.

Food

Nourishes especially figs, but also at the time of small rodents, of reptiles and insects.

Reproduction

Season of reproduction from April at August. The female lays from one to three white eggs in a hole of tree in which it is locked up during incubation by decreasing the opening thanks to cement containing excrements and of fruit pulp. It is the male which brings food to the mother and chicks.

Ecology

Primarily arboricolous species

The species and the man

Vernacular names

In its surface of natural distribution this bird bears the name of kandetta in Cingalais and of irattai-chondu-kuruvi in Tamoul.

Numismatics

This species is reproduced on a banknote of Ceylon of 1979 (10 rupees), under the name of Tockus griseus gingalensis .

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