The writhed hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus leucocephalus), 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.
| Writhed hornbill | |
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| Male (left) and female (right) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Bucerotiformes |
| Family: | Bucerotidae |
| Genus: | Rhabdotorrhinus |
| Species: | R. leucocephalus
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhabdotorrhinus leucocephalus (Vieillot, 1816)
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| Synonyms | |
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Aceros leucocephalus | |
Description
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EBird describes the bird as "A large bird of lowland forest on Mindanao and neighboring islands. Mostly black with a black-tipped white tail, a red casque and bill with ridges on the lower base, and orange bare skin around the eye and chin pouch. Male has an orange chest and neck and a white head. Female has a black neck and head. Similar to Southern rufous hornbill, but has a black-tipped tail. Also similar to Mindanao Hornbill, but larger, with a red bill. Voice is a loud, nasal “waag!”[2]
Ecology and behavior
editDiet is mainly fruit but also feeds on insects, small mammals and reptiles. Forages in across large areas usually with Southern rufous hornbill. Flocks as large as 37 birds have been recorded. [3]
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 have not been observed with this species so far. Among Philippine hornbills, it has only been recorded with the Rufous hornbill.
Species specific information on its breeding habits are limited. Nest has been recorded in March but fledged young also recorded as early as January. Lays 2 eggs in captivity and the entire nesting cycle including incubation and fledging took 92 days.[3]
Habitat and conservation status
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It is found in tropical moist lowland forest up to 1,000 meters above sea level but more common below 500 meters.[4]
IUCN has assessed this bird as near-threatened species with the population continuing to decline. While there are no official population estimates, it is believed that population does not exceed 10,000 individuals. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range, it is also hunted for food and for the illegal pet trade.
Occurs in a few protected areas like Mount Apo, Pasonanca Natural Park, Mount Timolan Protected Landscape and Mount Kitanglad but actual protection and enforcement from illegal logging and hunting are lax.[5]
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2020). "Rhabdotorrhinus leucocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22682522A184689600. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22682522A184689600.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Writhed Hornbill - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ a b Kemp, Alan C.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020). "Writhed Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus leucocephalus), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.wrihor2.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife Guides International. pp. 234–235.
- ^ IUCN (2020-09-09). Rhabdotorrhinus leucocephalus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22682522A184689600 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-3.rlts.t22682522a184689600.en.
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