Bird Guide

Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill vs Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus)

Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill

Bycanistes subcylindricus

Large1.2 kgForest

Bycanistes subcylindricus is a moderately large bird of 60 to 70 cm with a wing span of 70 to 96 cm. It is recognizable by its black plummage for the higher body and wings alongside and white plummage on the lower body and wings with black feathers amongst the white feathers of the tail, particularly the top tail feathers and the base of the tail feathers. It has a yellow-brownish bill and flattened casque, which are enlarged in males. Females have a smaller casque and a black bill. The purpose of the casque is unknown for males, although suggested to be for sexual characterization.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: benjchristensen · CC BY 4.0
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis)

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

Large1.2 kgForest

It measures 75 to 80 centimetres (30 to 31 in) in length, and has a very large cream-colored casque on the beak. 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. The sexes are similar except the female has a smaller casque and reddish skin around the eyes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
Recorded by Frank shirima · Call · Arusha, Arusha Urban, Arusha Region, Tanzania · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Glen Bowman from Newcastle, England · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill and Silvery-cheeked Hornbill.