Mindanao hornbill

Mindanao hornbill
	Male
	A male (left) and female (right)
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
	CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Bucerotiformes
Family:	Bucerotidae
Genus:	Penelopides
Species:	P. affinis
Binomial name
	Penelopides affinis; Tweeddale, 1877
Synonyms
	Penelopides panini affinis

Last updated December 23, 2024

The Mindanao hornbill (Penelopides affinis), also known as the Mindanao tarictic hornbill, is a medium-small species of hornbill found in the canopy of rainforests on Mindanao, Dinagat, Siargao and Basilan in the southern Philippines. All five Philippine tarictics were once considered a single species. Its population declining due to habitat destruction, hunting and the illegal wildlife trade.

Description and taxonomy

Ebird described it as "A fairly large bird of lowland and foothill forest. Small for a hornbill. Bill fairly short with black bands, and with bare skin around the eyes and chin. Male has pale underparts and head with a black cheek, a pale buffy tail with a black tip, and pale blue facial skin. Female is entirely black with a buffy band through the center of the tail and darker blue facial skin. Rufous hornbill occurs in some of the same areas, but has a red bill. Samar Hornbill's voice is a short, medium-pitched honk, reminiscent of a squeaky toy, often given in rapid series."^[4]

Formerly was once a single species. Visayan hornbill, Luzon hornbill, Samar hornbill and Mindoro hornbill. It is most similar to the Samar hornbill which it was again split from although some authorities believe in its treatment as a single species. It is differentiated from the Mindanao hornbill as it is smaller, and the male has a rufous uppertail. Its call is also in a slightly higher frequency.^[5] Its diet is presumed to be similar to other hornbills namely fruit, seeds, insects and small mammals and reptiles.^[5]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:

P. a. affinis (the nominate subspecies). Found on the islands of Mindanao, Dinagat and Siargao.
P. a. basilanica. Found on the island of Basilan.

It is social and often seen in pairs or small groups up to 12 birds. These birds are noisy, emitting an incessant ta-rik-tik call, hence the name. Despite their noise they are difficult to find, being well camouflaged by the dense foliage.^[6]

Ecology and behavior

They are primarily frugivorous eating figs and berries but they are also known to eat insects, lizards and other small animals. Usually seen in pairs but can form flocks of up to 15 birds.

All hornbills are monogamous and mate for life. They are cavity nesters and rely on large dipterocarp trees for breeding. The female seals itself within the tree cavity and the male is in charge of gathering food for its mate and chicks. The male stores food in a gular pouch and regurgitates it to feed its mate and chicks. Cooperative breeding, wherein immature birds from previous seasons help out in feeding the female and chick has not been observed with this species so far. Among Philippine hornbills, it has only been recorded with the Rufous hornbill.

Among the tarictics, this species is one of the least studied but breeding habits believed to be similar to the better studied Luzon and Visayan hornbill. Clutch size is presumed to be 2 to 3 eggs. Incubation period is slightly shorter than the Luzon hornbill at just 25 days. In captivity, chicks fledge within 47 to 54 days. ^[7]^[8]^[6]

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest with most records under 900 meters above sea level but with records of up to 1,450 meters above sea level.

The species has been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a Least-concern species although this still includes the Samar hornbill as part of its assessment. However, Mindanao and Basilan had undergone extensive lowland deforestation on all islands in its range is the main threat. Most remaining lowland forest that is not afforded protection leaving it vulnerable to both legal and Illegal logging, conversion into farmlands through Slash-and-burn and mining. The basilanica sub-species is particularly threatened as there is only 230 hectares of primary forest left. Due to security situation on Basilan, It was only reconfirmed as extant in 2019.

This tarictic species complex is widely kept in captivity, but due to the taxonomic reorganization it is unknown if these birds are of pure descent.

This occurs in a few protected areas such as Mount Apo, Mount Kitanglad, Pasonanca Natural Park, Mount Kalatungan and Mount Malindang but actual protection from illegal logging, hunting, and poaching are lax. ^[9]

Related Research Articles

The Visayan hornbill is a hornbill found in tropical moist lowland forests of the Philippines in the Western Visayas region which includes the islands of Panay, Negros and formerly as well as the island of Masbate, and formerly Ticao, in the Philippines. As is the case with all five Philippine tarictic hornbills, formerly considered to be just one species.It is declining due to habitat destruction, hunting and the illegal wildlife trade.

The pink-bellied imperial pigeon, also known as the zone-tailed pigeon, is found in the Philippines. It is a large and striking dove reaching sizes of up to 42cm long. The pink-bellied imperial pigeon is mostly dark green, with a pale gray head, an appropriately pink belly, and a brown, black, and gray pattern on its tail. Its eyes and eye ceres are red. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The rufous hornbill, also known as the Philippine hornbill and locally as kalaw, is a large species of hornbill endemic to the Philippines. They are referred by locals as the "clock-of-the-mountains" due to its large booming call which typically occur of every hour. It occurs in moist tropical lowland forest. They are now considered to be a threatened species and its reasons for decline being habitat destruction, hunting and poaching for the illegal pet trade.

The writhed hornbill, also known as the Mindanao wrinkled hornbill, is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is endemic to primarily lowland forests on the Philippine islands of Mindanao, Dinagat and Camiguin Sur. It formerly included the Walden's hornbill as a subspecies, but unlike that species, both sexes of the writhed hornbill have orange-red throat and peri-ocular skin. The writhed hornbill is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.

The Luzon hornbill, sometimes called Luzon tarictic hornbill, is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is endemic to forests on Luzon and nearby islands in the northern Philippines. All five Philippine tarictics were once considered a single species. It is declining due to habitat destruction, hunting and the illegal wildlife trade.

The Mindoro hornbill is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is endemic to forests on Mindoro in the Philippines found in tropical moist lowland forests. As is the case with all five Philippine tarictic hornbills, formerly considered to be just one species. It is the only tarictic hornbill where both sexes are creamy-white and black. The sexes are very similar, differing primarily in the colour of the ocular ring. It is threatened by habitat loss, and is consequently considered endangered by the IUCN.

The Samar hornbill is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is found in forests on the islands of Samar, Calicoan, Leyte and Bohol in the east-central Philippines. As is the case with all Philippine tarictic hornbills, it has been considered a subspecies of Visayan hornbill Alternatively, it is considered a subspecies of Mindanao hornbill.

The black-faced coucal is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found in the islands of Mindanao, Basilan Dinagat Islands Bohol, Leyte, Biliran and Samar. It is a striking coucal with its cream head contrasted with a black mask and tail and chestnut wings. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.

The yellow-wattled bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests and forest edge

The white-eared brown dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Philippines, and is most commonly found in lowland and montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-breasted fruit dove</span> Species of bird

The yellow-breasted fruit dove locally known as balorinay is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. While it is listed as least concern in IUCN, it is declining due to habitat loss, hunting, and trapping for the illegal wildlife trade.

The black-bibbed cicadabird or black-bibbed cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. The species is elusive and poorly known. This species has five subspecies that differ considerably in plummage, it is possible that this may actually be a species complex and consists of multiple species.

The little slaty flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found on the islands of Mindanao, Leyte and Samar in the Philippines.

The short-crested monarch is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae and one of the most attractive of all the monarch flycatchers. It is a brilliant ultramarine blue bird with the males having a black facial markings with an electric blue eyering and a short crest contrasted with a pearly white belly. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Luzon, Camiguin Norte, Polilio, Catanduanes, Samar, Dinagat and Mindanao. It is found in tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Along with the Celestial monarch, It is one of the most sought after birds among birdwatchers.

The brown tit-babbler is a species of bird in the family Timaliidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and or tropical moist montane forest.

The striated wren-babbler is a species of passerine bird in the Pellorneidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Basilan, Dinagat Islands and Mindanao. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and the lower reaches of tropical moist montane forest.

The stripe-headed rhabdornis or stripe-headed creeper, also known as the stripe-sided rhabdornis, is a species of bird currently placed in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

The Mindanao blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is one of 47 species in the genus Rhipidura. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the island of Mindanao and Basilan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Visayan blue fantail.

The rusty-crowned babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is native to the southern Philippines on the islands of Mindanao and Dinagat Islands and Basilan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.

The buff-spotted flameback is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found on the Philippine islands of Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Panaon, Mindanao, Basilan, and Samal. Along with the other Philippine species, Yellow-faced flameback, Luzon flameback, Red-headed flameback, it was formerly conspecific greater flameback

References

↑ BirdLife International (2020). "Penelopides affinis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T61623294A184679044. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T61623294A184679044.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
↑ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
↑ 11th Congress. "Republic Act No. 9147". Official Gazette of the Philippines.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ "Samar Hornbill - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
1 2 Kirwan, Guy M.; Kemp, Alan C.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2021). "Samar Hornbill (Penelopides samarensis), version 2.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.samhor1.02. ISSN 2771-3105.
1 2 Kirwan, Guy M.; Kemp, Alan C.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2021). "Mindanao Hornbill (Penelopides affinis), version 2.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.minhor1.02. ISSN 2771-3105.
↑ Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife Guides International. pp. 202–203.
↑ Kemp, Alan C.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020). "Luzon Hornbill (Penelopides manillae), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.luzhor1.01. ISSN 2771-3105.
↑ IUCN (2020-09-09). Penelopides affinis: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T61623294A184679044 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-3.rlts.t61623294a184679044.en.