Birdsong field guide
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
Bycanistes subcylindricus
A large, conspicuous hornbill of African forests known for its massive, dark casque and striking black-and-white plumage. It plays a vital role in forest regeneration as a primary seed disperser for various fruit-bearing trees.
What it sounds like
A series of loud, harsh, and rhythmic braying notes or raucous cackles, often sounding like a discordant 'kok-kok-kok-ka-ka-ka'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- The species features a large, hollow, brownish-black casque atop the bill, which is significantly more prominent and cylindrical in males than in females.
- During the nesting period, the female seals herself into a tree cavity using mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male provides all her food.
- Though primarily frugivorous with a strong preference for figs, they are opportunistic hunters that consume insects, millipedes, and even small vertebrates like bats.
- Unlike many birds, their wings produce a distinct, loud rushing or 'whooshing' sound during flight because they lack underwing coverts, allowing air to pass through the feathers.
- They are highly social and monogamous, often seen in pairs or small groups, though up to hundreds may congregate at a single high-yield fruiting tree.
Habitat
Primary and secondary lowland rainforests, gallery forests, and mature wooded gardens.
Range
Equatorial Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone in the west to western Kenya and northwestern Tanzania in the east.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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