Alternative names: Great Philippine Hornbill; Philippine Brown Hornbill
- Buceros hydrocorax
Identification
60-65cm. A large Hornbill.
- Rufous head and underparts, darker on belly, black on face
- Brown wings
- White tail often stained pale tan
- Black based red bill with large red casque
- Yellow bare skin around eye
Females are similar but without black on base of bill and they are smaller.
Distribution
Endemic to the Philippines.
Declining in much of its range due to forest loss.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies recognized:
- B. h. hydrocorax on Luzon and Marinduque
- B. h. semigaleatus on Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Panaon, Buad, Calicoan and Biliran
- B. h. mindanensis on Dinagat, Siargao, Balut, Bucas, Talicud, Mindanao and Basilan
Habitat
Primary evergreen forest. Occurs up to 2100m.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on fruits and seeds, takes also insects and centipedes.
Forages in the canopy.
They make their nests in tree cavities. Only females incubate the eggs. After the eggs are laid, the hole is almost completely sealed up with mud. There is only a small gap left for the male to pass the food. A co-operative breeder.
References
Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334306
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rufous Hornbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous_Hornbill
