I shot this Silvery Cheeked Hornbill 2 while visiting Tanzania on Safari. The location was just as we arrived in Lake Mantra conservation area.
Silvery-cheeked hornbills are medium-sized members of the hornbill family. Males and females have a large creamy coloured casque on the top of their bills. All hornbills have a casque, a hollow structure on the top of the bill that supports the bill and enhances vocal calls, which is unique to this group of birds. Their plumage is mostly iridescent black with silvery-grey across the head and white on their back, rump and tail. Females are smaller than males and have a circle of bare red skin around their eyes.
Male and female birds form a strong bond and share parental care of the offspring. Breeding occurs early in the year in northern areas, such as Ethiopia, and shifts towards the end of the year further south.
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!
About Neil
Recently I got into birding and absolutely love it. The few bird pictures that I have taken have all been in Malaysia and 95% of them were taken in the wild around Sekinchan Paddy Fields.
In Jan 2016 I went on Safari to Tanzania …………Tanzania is a Birders Paradise
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