Grey-Cheeked Hornbill

Grey-Cheeked Hornbill

Range: Central and western Africa, including Congo and the Ivory Coast

Habitat: Evergreen forest, especially secondary forest, plantations and forest edge on the periphery of main forest blocks

Lifespan: Up to 31 years in captivity

Incubation: Incubation period is about 40 days; nesting period is about 70 days in the wild, about 110 in captivity

Offspring: Generally two chicks

Size: About 60-70 cm in length, with female slightly smaller than male.

Diet: Nearly 70 percent of this bird's diet is animal supplement, including insects, arachnids, small birds, bats, lizards and their eggs, snails and millipedes.

Characteristics: As with all hornbills, the Grey-Cheeked Hornbill nests in tree cavities. During breeding, both male and female help seal the female inside the nesting area with soil and sticky mud. The female depends on the male during incubation and until young are ready to leave the nest. The male forages for food, which he carries in his gullet then regurgitates to feed the female.

Threats: The main threat to this animal is habitat destruction.