Photo: DickDaniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
Bycanistes brevis
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Bucerotiformes
- Family Bucerotidae Hornbills
- Genus Bycanistes
- Species brevis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Bucerotidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Vulnerable
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis) is a species of bird in the Bucerotidae family, part of the order Bucerotiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF South Sudan and Ethiopia to Mozambique.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 35.5 cm and a tail of around 29.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 834,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill?
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill live?
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF South Sudan and Ethiopia to Mozambique, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill belong to?
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill eat?
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill migrate?
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill's range?
The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 834,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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