brown-cheeked hornbill

The Brown‑cheeked Hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus) is a large forest hornbill characterized by its 60–70 cm length, black upperparts, white rump, belly, and tail, and distinctive reddish‑brown cheeks (in males). In males, the large yellow down‑curving bill features a pronounced casque; females are smaller and have a black bill and casque. These birds are primarily frugivorous, feeding on large forest fruits high in the canopy, which makes them key seed‑dispersers for rainforest trees (they have been recorded dispersing seeds up to ~6.9 km from feeding trees).

They nest in large tree cavities, often high above the ground, and pairs may use the same nest in successive seasons. Their dependence on large trees and intact forest canopy means they are particularly vulnerable to forest logging and fragmentation.

Because their total population remains unquantified but is known to be declining rapidly, the Brown‑cheeked Hornbill serves as an indicator species of forest health in West Africa’s Upper Guinean region. Conservation efforts must protect large continuous forest tracts, ensure preservation of key nest trees, monitor hunting pressures, and restore connectivity between forest fragments.