Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill(Bycanistes brevis)
It measures 75 to 80 centimetres in lengthened they weigh between 1-1.4 kg, and has a very large cream-coloured 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 females are smaller than males and have a circle of bare red skin around their eyes.
Habitat
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.
Diet
The diet of the silvery-cheeked hornbill is omnivorous but mainly fruit such as figs. These birds can fly large distances to find fruiting trees. They will also take insects and small vertebrates such as lizards and frogs.
Breeding
Females build a nest in a tree hollow before blocking it up with mud pellets created by the male. She will remain in the blocked up hollow until the chicks fledge. The male provides food for the female and the chicks. He will make up to 24 visits every day, which can add up to 1,600 visits over the entire nesting period.
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Least Concern(LC). The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be locally common but with a patchy distribution. The species is tentatively assessed as being in decline due to habitat loss.
Threats
It is threatened by habitat destruction, which is reducing suitable nesting and roosting trees. However, they can survive in a wide variety of habitats and actively move around to locate new feeding trees.
Conservation
There are no conservation actions for this species.