Guinea is home to several species of hornbill, including the yellow-casqued hornbill and the black-and-white casqued hornbill. These birds can grow to about 70 centimetres long — roughly the length of a ruler and a half — and their wingbeats make a distinctive whooshing sound you can hear before you see them.
Hornbills have an extraordinary nesting habit. The female seals herself inside a tree cavity using mud, droppings and fruit pulp, leaving only a tiny slit. The male feeds her through this slit every day. She stays sealed inside until the chicks are old enough, which can be several months. This protects the eggs and chicks from snakes and other predators.
Hornbills eat mostly fruit and are very important for forest health. When they eat fruit and fly to a new location, they drop the seeds in their droppings — planting new trees across the forest. This is called seed dispersal, and hornbills do it over enormous areas.
Many communities in Guinea and across West Africa consider hornbills to be special birds. Their bright feathers and impressive beaks make them a common motif in traditional art, masks and ceremonial costumes.