Hornbill (Silver-Cheeked)

The Silver-cheeked Hornbill is a large bird at (30 to 31 in) in length with a very large creamy casque on the beak. The female has a smaller casque and reddish skin around the eyes. The head is silver-grey and the rest of the plumage is iridescent black, except for the white rump.

Silver-cheeked Hornbills are residents of the tall evergreen forests of 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.

Usually they live in pairs and sometimes roost in flocks of hundreds of individuals. This hornbill feeds on fruits, insects, small birds, rodents, small reptiles and centipedes.

They breed in spring (September and October; at least in part of its range) and lay clutches of 1 to 3 white eggs, incubated for 40 days. The young remain with both parents for about 80 days.

 Photographed at Bird Kingdom Aviary, Niagara Falls, ON