Mindoro Hornbill Penelopides mindorensis Scientific name definitions

45 cm. Small hornbill, black and yellowish-white with large white to beige to rufous patch on black tail. Male has black ear-coverts and throat; bill dark brown to black with yellow stripes and tip, low casque; bare skin around eye and on throat flesh-pink. ­Female like male but smaller, facial and throat skin blue; the only species of genus in which female is not almost entirely black. Juvenile similar to adult, but smaller bill without stripes.

Mindoro (NC Philippines).

Inhabits primary evergreen forest , extending to forest edge, secondary forest, and even isolated fruiting trees; generally found in lowlands, rarely up to 1000 m.

Probably sedentary and territorial.

Fruits recorded in diet, mainly figs; possibly also takes some insects. Usually seen in pairs; occasionally in flocks, of up to 20 birds.

A repeated, rather subdued nasal “ta-ric” or “ta-ric-tic” (hence its onomatopoeic name). Similar to P. panini, but less nasal and lower-pitched.

Female in breeding condition in May. No other information.

ENDANGERED. CITES II. Restricted-range species: present in Mindoro EBA. Formerly abundant and apparently still quite common in 1970s, but the single island on which it occurs has lost c. 80% of its original forest habitat; this makes the area of remaining habitat very vulnerable, and size of the remaining population is likely to be very small. Recorded at only five localities since 1990, with local reports that it may still survive at another seven or more sites. Main threat is continued destruction of already heavily fragmented remaining patches of forest; hunting also continues at unsustainable levels. Comprehensive surveys urgently required; a network of strictly protected reserves should be set up before it is too late for this species and other sympatric endemics.