196 views as at 5 November 2011

Taken in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

The Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes brevis) is a large bird, with length from 75 to 80 cm, characterized by a very large creamy casque on the beak, smaller in females. The head is silver-grey and the rest of the plumage is black, except for a broad white stripe on the lower back. Silvery-cheeked Hornbills are uncommon localized residents of the tall evergreen forests of East Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa.

Usually they live in pairs and sometimes roost in flocks of hundreds of individuals. This hornbill feeds on fruits, insects, other birds’ eggs and centipedes. They breed in spring (September and October) and lay clutches of 1 to 3 white eggs, incubated for 40 days. The young remain with both parents for circa 80 days. (Wikipedia)

Camera – Nikon D80; Lens – Tamron 28 – 300 VR zoom

Framed Print