They fly with a strong flap and glide flight and hop around heavily on the outer branches of large fruiting trees.

The Indian grey hornbill, which is found mainly on the adjoining plains, is easily told apart by its prominent casque, and in flight by the white trailing edge of the entire wing.

[7] சோலைக்  காகா (solai kaka, Tamil, meaning forest crow); சராட்டான் (sarattaan, Kadar); செரியன் ஓங்கல் (seriyan oongal, Muthuvan, meaning small hornbill); ಕಲ್ದಲ್ ಹಕ್ಕಿ (kaldal hakki, Kannada), കോഴിവേഴാമ്പൽ (kozhi vezhambal, Malayalam), chotta peelu or dhanesh in Marathi, and gobre vaayre in Konkani.

The species is endemic to the Western Ghats mountain range of India from about Nashik in the north to the southernmost hills[7][1].

The species has an elevational distribution range from about 50 m near the coast (e.g., Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra) to around 1,500 m in the mountains.

[8] In the southern Western Ghats, Malabar Grey Hornbills were reported 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.

Being large frugivores, they are important as seed dispersal agents for many species of fruit bearing forest trees.

The entrance to the nest retains a narrow aperture through which the female voids excreta and receives food from the male.