Bycanistes cylindricus
The Brown-cheeked Hornbill (*Bycanistes cylindricus*) is a striking, large-bodied bird endemic to the evergreen rainforests of West Africa, typically measuring 60-70 cm (24-28 inches) in length. Its plumage is predominantly glossy black, contrasting sharply with a pristine white belly, rump, and outer tail feathers. A defining field mark is its prominent rich brown cheek and ear covert patches, which give the species its common name. The massive, cream-colored bill, topped with a distinctive ...
Primarily inhabits primary evergreen rainforests and mature secondary growth, often found near forest edges or clearings. It occurs from lowlands up to approximately 1200-1500 meters in elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of fruits, particularly figs, from forest trees. Supplements its diet with insects, small reptiles, and amphibians, which it forages by gleaning and hawking.
Brown-cheeked Hornbills are diurnal, spending their days foraging actively in the upper canopy layers of the rainforest. They often move in pairs or small family groups, occasionally forming larger, non-breeding flocks that roost communally in tall emergent trees at night. Their foraging strategy...
The Brown-cheeked Hornbill is endemic to the Upper Guinea forests of West Africa, with its main breeding and resident range extending from Sierra Leone eastward through Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. A distinct, isolated population is found further east in Nigeria, particularly within Cross R...
Vulnerable
- The female Brown-cheeked Hornbill seals herself inside a tree cavity during nesting, relying entirely on the male to provide food through a narrow slit. - Its distinctive brown cheek patches give the bird its common name and set it apart from other black-and-white hornbills in its range. - The ...