Fauna
Bird

Yellow-casqued Hornbill

Ceratogymna elata

Also known as Yellow-casqued Wattled Hornbill

Yellow-casqued hornbills fly through West African canopy foliage with heavy, rhythmic wingbeats that produce a swooshing sound audible from long distances. Males sport a massive, creamy-yellow helmet-like casque atop their beak alongside bright blue bare facial skin, while females possess a smaller casque and rufous head plumage. As vital forest seed dispersers, these large canopy birds follow fruiting trees across vast home ranges and nest inside natural cavities high in mature trees.

FrugivorousCanopy Dweller
Yellow-casqued Hornbill reference
(c) Biodiversity Heritage Library, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyOil Palm Fruit, Figs, Insects
Predators
  • Crowned Eagle
  • Leopard
ThreatsDeforestation, forest degradation, and hunting
HabitatsPrimary lowland rainforest, swamp forest, and mature secondary forest
Life span15–25 years
Classification
  1. FamilyBucerotidae
  2. SpeciesCeratogymna elata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Maintains canopy distance; powerful bill can deliver a painful pinch if handled.
What to notice
Look for huge, dark canopy birds with prominent yellow beak casques and bare blue facial skin.
Support conservation
Observe from a distance and avoid disclosing specific nest site locations to prevent human disturbance.
Responsible observation
  • Listen for Flight: Spot them by listening for their loud, swooshing wingbeats reverberating through the canopy.
  • Scan High Canopies: Focus observation on upper forest layers and fruiting oil palm groves.
  • Keep Quiet Distance: Use optics to observe canopy movements without disturbing nesting trees.
Related species
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