H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill – Spec. Name: Bycanistes brevis

This is a large bird at 75 to 80 centimeters (30 to 31 in) in length with a very large creamy casque on the beak. The female has a smaller casque and reddish skin around the eyes.

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

The head is silver-grey and the rest of the plumage is iridescent black, except for the white rump, lower back, thighs, vent and tip of the outer tail-feathers. Silvery-cheeked Hornbills are residents of the tall evergreen forests of East Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa. In Zimbabwe it is threatened by habitat destruction and its presence in South Africa is marginal, but it remains locally fairly common, especially in the northern and central parts of its range. Usually they live in pairs and sometimes roost in flocks of hundreds of individuals. This hornbill feeds on fruits, insects, small birds, rodents, small reptiles and centipedes. 

They breed in spring (September and October; at least in part of its range) and lay clutches of 1 to 3 white eggs, incubated for 40 days. The young remain with both parents for circa 80 days.

Silvery-cheeked Hornbills food consists mostly of fruits, also some insects and bird eggs.

All photographs are © H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

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