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Photo: Elliot, Daniel Giraud / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Brown-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes cylindricus

Brown-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus) is a member of the Bucerotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 921 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Bucerotiformes
  3. Family Bucerotidae Hornbills
  4. Genus Bycanistes
  5. Species cylindricus

Where it lives

Sierra Leone to Ghana

Quick facts

Weight
921 g
Family
Bucerotidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Brown-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 Brown-cheeked Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus) is a member of the Bucerotidae family, within the order Bucerotiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone to Ghana.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 921 g, with a wing length of about 32 cm and a tail of around 25.8 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 477,000 km².

Songs & calls

Brown-cheeked Hornbill — Call

Recorded by Étienne Leroy Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Brown-cheeked Hornbill?

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill is a very large bird that weighs around 921 g.

Where does the Brown-cheeked Hornbill live?

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone to Ghana, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Brown-cheeked Hornbill belong to?

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus) belongs to the Bucerotidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.

What does the Brown-cheeked Hornbill eat?

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Does the Brown-cheeked Hornbill migrate?

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Brown-cheeked Hornbill endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Brown-cheeked Hornbill make?

1 real field recording of the Brown-cheeked Hornbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Brown-cheeked Hornbill's range?

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill has a mapped global range of about 477,000 km².

Conservation

Vulnerable

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

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