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Please note: On Wednesday April 24 at Franklin Park Zoo and Thursday, April 25 at Stone Zoo, volunteers, zoo employees and local emergency responders will take part in routine animal escape exercises. While the exercise is occurring, guests have the opportunity to participate in the evacuation portion, and may be asked to move to certain areas within the Zoo for a brief period of time (not to exceed 10 minutes). These exercises are an important part of our preparedness training, and we appreciate your participation and understanding. If you have any questions about what to expect, please don't hesitate to contact us at 617-989-2000 or info@zoonewengland.org.

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Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

  • silvery-cheeked hornbill
  • silvery-cheeked hornbill
  • silvery-cheeked hornbill
  • silvery-cheeked hornbill
  • silvery-cheeked hornbill
  • silvery-cheeked hornbill
  • silvery-cheeked hornbill
  • silvery-cheeked hornbill

About the Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill

conservation status: least concern

Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Bucerotidae
Genus: Bycanistes
Species: brevis

Size:
Up to 3 pounds

Diet:
Fruit, insects and sometimes small mammals, birds and reptiles.

Habitat/range:
They're found in lowland and coastal forests throughout Mozambique, Zimbabwe and northeastern South Africa.

Behavior:
Silvery-cheeked hornbills form in pairs or small family groups of three to four. Flocks of 20 have been observed at a feeding site, and sometimes 100 birds will gather together for a communal roost. They spend most of their time in the forest canopy but will descend to the ground for dust baths and to gather mud for nests.

Median Life Expectancy:
Up to 40 years