Brown-cheeked Hornbill - BirdForum Opus

Bycanistes cylindricus

Ceratogymna cylindrica

Identification

60-70cm. A medium-sized to large black hornbill with a white rump.

• White tail with broad black band across centre
• White rump, tail-coverts and belly, broad white trailing edge to wings
• Black rest of plumage
• Brown-tipped feathers on face
• Cream-coloured bill and high tubular casque
• Dark red skin around eye

Females are much smaller and have a blackish, smaller bill and casque.
Juveniles similar to adults but with smaller bill and without casque.

Distribution

Found in western Africa from Sierra Leone east to Togo.
An uncommon, restricted-range species. Threatened with habitat loss.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].
Sometimes considered conspecific with White-thighed Hornbill.
This species is sometimes included in the genus Ceratogymna.

Habitat

Humid forests

Behaviour

Feeds mainly on fruit, takes also some insects, bird eggs and nestlings.
Usually seen in pairs or in small groups, sometimes in larger groups.
Little known about breeding. Nests in a natural cavity 20-25m up in trees.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334306
3. Avibase

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Brown-cheeked Hornbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 November 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brown-cheeked_Hornbill

External Links

Search for photos of Brown-cheeked Hornbill in the gallery