Silvery-cheeked Hornbill - Bycanistes brevis

The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill is found from the forests of Ethiopia to South Africa. Box sexes look similar but the female has a smaller casque (horn) than the male. They are glossy black with a white lower abdomen, bare blue skin around the eyes, black feet and legs and silvery-tipped feathers on the face.

Like other hornbills, they are cavity nesters. Both parents build a wall to seal the female and eggs in the nest. The wall is made of mud, droppings, and food. A small slit is left open for the male to pass food to the female and chicks. When the nest gets too small, the female breaks out and the chicks rebuild the wall until they are ready to fly. The female undergoes a complete molt while in the nest.

Diet is fruit.

Adult

Male 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL Male 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL	Male 09/03/2013 - Bird Kingdom, Niagra Falls, ON, Canada Male 09/03/2013 - Bird Kingdom, Niagra Falls, ON, Canada	Male 09/03/2013 - Bird Kingdom, Niagra Falls, ON, Canada Male 09/03/2013 - Bird Kingdom, Niagra Falls, ON, Canada
Female 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL Female 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL	Male 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL Male 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL	Female 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL Female 03/13/2013 - Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL

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