Photo by martinuk
PICOP, Mangagoy, Bislig, Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines, February 2012
Alternative names: Writhe-billed Hornbill; White-headed Hornbill; Mindanao Wrinkled Hornbill
- Rhabdotorrhinus leucocephalus
Identification
60-65cm. A medium-sized black hornbill with a black-tipped white tail.
Male
- Dark brown crown and hindneck
- White face and neck to upper breast (stained creamy by preen oil)
- Red bill, base of lower mandible with blue-black grooves, red wrinkled casque
- Deep orangy-red bare skin around eye and on throat
Female
- Smaller than male
- All black head to breast
- Paler facial skin
Juveniles similar to adults but with smaller bill and without casque.
Distribution
Southern Philippines (Camiguin, Dinagat and Mindanao).
Formerly relatively common but now much rarer as forest is much reduced in its range.
Formerly placed in the genus Aceros.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
May form a superspecies with Walden's Hornbill, Wrinkled Hornbill and Knobbed Hornbill and even sometimes considered conspecific with Walden's Hornbill.
Habitat
Primary lowland rainforest with an abundance of fruit trees.
Behaviour
Usually seen in pairs, rarely in flocks.
Diet
Feeds mainly on fruit, takes also some insects.
Often foraging with Rufous Hornbill.
Breeding
They use natural or carved-out hollows in tree trunks for nests.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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. (2025) Writhed Hornbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 30 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Writhed_Hornbill
