Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is a large bird at 75 to 80 centimetres in length with a very large creamy casque on the beak. The female has a smaller casque and reddish skin around the eyes. 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 Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis) Kaya Kinondo, Kenya. Mar 6, 202 Bycanistes brevis,Geotagged,Kenya,Silvery-cheeked Hornbill,Summer

Distribution

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.
Hornbill One of the less colourful hornbills but still very beautiful... Bycanistes brevis,Geotagged,Silvery-cheeked Hornbill,Tanzania

Behavior

Usually they live in pairs and sometimes roost in flocks of hundreds of individuals.
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill calling out in Lake Manyara NP, Tanzania  Africa,Bycanistes brevis,Geotagged,Lake Manyara,Silvery-cheeked Hornbill,Tanzania

Reproduction

They breed in spring 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 Hornbill eating fruit in tree in Lake Manyara NP, Tanzania  Africa,Bycanistes brevis,Geotagged,Lake Manyara,Silvery-cheeked Hornbill,Tanzania

Food

This hornbill feeds on fruits, insects, small birds, rodents, small reptiles and centipedes.

References:

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderCoraciiformes
FamilyBucerotidae
GenusBycanistes
SpeciesB. brevis