The Sri Lanka grey hornbill is a gregarious bird found in forest habitats.

Sexes are similar, although the male has a cream-coloured bill, whereas the female's is black with a cream stripe.

Immature birds have dark grey upperparts, a cream bill, and a tail with a white tip.

The female lays up to four white eggs in a tree hole blocked off during incubation with a cement made of mud, droppings and fruit pulp.

There is only one narrow aperture, barely wide enough for the male to transfer food to the mother and chicks.