Description
The silvery-cheeked hornbill is a large tropical bird from the hornbill family, known for its massive beak with a distinctive casque. Its plumage combines black and white, while its silvery wings make flight strikingly impressive. The beak and casque play an important role in vocal communication and mate attraction.

Key Facts

• Scientific name: Bycanistes brevis

• Average size: body length 70–80 cm; wingspan 120–150 cm

• Weight: about 1.5–2 kg

• Habitat type: tropical and subtropical forests of Africa

Lifestyle
These birds usually form pairs or small groups. They mainly feed on fruits but also consume insects and small animals. A unique nesting behavior characterizes the species: the female seals herself inside a tree cavity with mud, leaving only a narrow slit, while the male provides food throughout the breeding period.

Conservation Status
Listed in the IUCN Red List as a species with a stable but localized population. Major threats include deforestation and loss of suitable nesting sites.

Habitat
Found in East and Central Africa: from Kenya and Tanzania to Uganda, the Congo, and Zambia.