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.
Region
Southern Philippines
Typical Environment
Occurs mainly in primary and mature secondary lowland to foothill evergreen forests, especially dipterocarp stands. It frequents forest edges, riparian corridors, and occasionally selectively logged areas if large fruiting trees remain. The species is largely canopy-dwelling but will descend to mid-story when following fruiting events. Nesting requires large old-growth trees with deep cavities, making intact forest critical.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Mindanao wrinkled hornbill, this species is confined to the southern Philippines. It nests in large tree cavities, where the female seals herself in and relies on the male to deliver food through a narrow slit. Both sexes show striking orange-red bare skin around the eyes and throat, and the bill bears multiple wrinkled ridges (casque). It is highly sensitive to forest loss and hunting.
A captive male
An illustration of a male
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong flier with deep, powerful wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species hornbill flocks at abundant fruiting trees. Breeding pairs use tree-cavity nests; the female is sealed inside with a mud-and-pulp wall, leaving a narrow slit for food transfer. The male provisions the female and chicks until the female breaks out late in the nesting cycle.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include loud nasal honks, gruff barks, and cackling calls that carry across the canopy. Wingbeats produce a characteristic whooshing sound audible at distance.
Plumage
Glossy black body with contrasting pale to rufous head tones in males and darker head in females; tail largely white with a black subterminal band.
Diet
Primarily consumes figs and other fleshy fruits, playing an important role in seed dispersal. It supplements its diet with insects and small vertebrates such as lizards when available. Feeding often follows fruiting phenology, with birds commuting between widely spaced fruiting trees.
Preferred Environment
Forages high in the forest canopy, especially at large fruiting figs and laurels. Will use forest edges and degraded forest if mature fruiting trees persist, but prefers extensive intact forest tracts.
