Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

Least ConcernRareFruitForestCavity nestLarge · 1.2 kg

About the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

The silvery-cheeked hornbill is a large species of hornbill found in Africa. 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.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill sounds like

Recording: Anne Ndung'u · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Anne Ndung'u · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in South Africa.

When to see it

Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill for real

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