The silvery-cheeked hornbill is a large species of hornbill found in Africa. 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.
Region
East Africa
Typical Environment
Found from Ethiopia south through Kenya and Tanzania to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and marginally into northeastern South Africa. It favors tall evergreen and montane forests, wooded valleys, and forest edges with abundant fruiting trees. The species often visits riparian forests and large fig trees in farmland mosaics. Local movements track seasonal fruiting, and it may gather at communal roosts near food-rich areas.
Altitude Range
600–2500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This impressive hornbill is named for the pale, silvery mottling on its cheeks and the large casque atop its bill. It plays a vital role in seed dispersal, especially for wild figs, moving seeds across forest landscapes. During breeding, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity and is fed through a narrow slit by the male. Loud, trumpeting calls carry over long distances in forest canopies.
Temperament
social and noisy
Flight Pattern
strong flier with deep wingbeats and short glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, and larger flocks may form at abundant fruit sources. Breeding pairs nest in natural tree cavities; the female is sealed inside with a mud-and-dropping plaster, leaving a narrow slit through which the male feeds her and the chicks. Communal roosting in tall trees is common outside the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include loud trumpeting honks, harsh croaks, and barking calls that carry far through the forest. Duets between pairs are common, with guttural notes and clattering bill sounds.
Plumage
Mostly glossy black with a contrasting white rump and undertail coverts; cheeks show pale, silvery mottling. Feathers are sleek and dense, giving a satiny appearance in good light.
Diet
Primarily frugivorous, favoring figs and other soft fruits, but it also takes insects, small lizards, and occasionally nestlings. It swallows fruits whole and later regurgitates seeds, aiding forest regeneration. Diet composition shifts seasonally with fruit availability, and animal prey increases when fruit is scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds high in the canopy of tall evergreen and montane forests, especially at fruiting fig trees. Also forages along forest edges, riparian corridors, and in scattered large trees within agricultural mosaics.
