Sulu Hornbill: Sounds and Habitat in the Philippine Forests

Sulu Hornbill Anthracoceros montani

Red list status: Critically Endangered

Extant (resident): Philippines

The Sulu hornbill — “tawsi” in the local language — is endemic to the Philippines, living only on islands in the Sulu Archipelago between Mindanao and Borneo. It is the sole member of the Bucerotidae family within its area and was described as widespread and abundant at the time of its discovery in 1880. Since then, the population has crashed.

Today, the only viable breeding population of the Sulu hornbill known to exist is found on the small island of Tawi-Tawi, where a mere 100 square kilometers (close to 25,000 acres) of suitable forest remains, according to the IUCN. The total global population is estimated to be about 40 individuals.

Mongabay

Threats

There are numerous serious threats to the remaining 27 mature adult Sulu Hornill population.

In 2019 it was reported that only 27 mature individual hornbills are still believed to be alive in the wild making it one of the most endangered animals in the world.^[5]

Wikipedia

• Large-scale deforestation: of their habitats on Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Sanga-Sanga.
• Deforestation for palm oil
• Deforestation for rubber
• Mining activities in the areas where they live.
• Human persecution: for target practice, especially due to high gun ownership in the past.
• Hunting: the harvesting of young hornbills for food.
• Pet trade: the collection of the species for trade.]

Sulu hornbill habitat

Sulu Hornbill live in primary dipterocarp forests, often on mountain slopes, possibly due to forest loss elsewhere. Occasionally, the birds will travel over a kilometre to visit isolated fruiting trees. Anthracoceros montani need large trees for nesting.

Diet

Their diet mainly includes fruit, occasionally they may also eat small lizards and insects.

FAQs: Sulu hornbill facts

How many Sulu hornbills are left?

The Sulu hornbill population is estimated at just 27 mature adults. This makes them one of the rarest birds on Earth. Targeted surveys confirm that hornbill numbers have declined catastrophically since the 1880s, when they were recorded as abundant across multiple islands in the Sulu Archipelago. Consequently, researchers consider total extinction a very real near-term possibility without immediate intervention.

Why is the Sulu hornbill endangered?

The Sulu hornbill is Critically Endangered because palm oil and timber corporations have systematically destroyed their forest home. Commercial logging and palm oil deforestation cleared vast areas of the primary dipterocarp forest across the Sulu Archipelago. Furthermore, relentless hunting for food, target practice, and illegal collection for the exotic pet trade have driven their population to the very edge of survival.

Is the Sulu hornbill extinct?

The Sulu hornbill is not completely extinct, but they are locally extinct across almost their entire historical range. They were once found across several islands including Jolo and Sanga Sanga, but hunting and habitat destruction eliminated those populations by the 1930s. However today, the entire global population survives solely within a small patch of remaining forest on Tawi-Tawi island.

What does the Sulu hornbill sound like?

The Sulu hornbill call is loud and distinctive. Their call consists of a rapid series of clucking notes that build and end abruptly in a sharp, piercing squawk. They use these vocalisations to communicate with other individuals across the dense forest canopy. Their large casque is thought to amplify and resonate these calls, making them audible over considerable distances to other birds. Experts think that this call is critical for mating and reproduction as well as nesting.

What is the Sulu hornbill diet?

The Sulu hornbill diet is primarily frugivorous. They rely heavily on native canopy fruits, particularly from large fig trees within old-growth forest. However, they also actively hunt small lizards and insects to supplement their diet. Because logging and palm oil deforestation have severely fragmented their habitat, tawsi individuals must sometimes travel over a kilometre to reach isolated fruiting trees.

What is the local name for the Sulu hornbill?

The Sulu hornbill is locally known as the “tawsi” by communities across the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines. This name reflects the deep cultural familiarity that Indigenous and local communities have with this species across their historical range. However, despite this cultural recognition, weak enforcement of wildlife protection laws means hunting continues to threaten the last surviving individuals on Tawi-Tawi.

What is the rarest hornbill in the world?

The Sulu hornbill is widely considered the rarest hornbill in the world and one of the rarest birds of any species. With just 27 estimated mature adults surviving, Anthracoceros montani is significantly rarer than other Critically Endangered hornbill species such as the helmeted hornbill and the rufous-headed hornbill. Furthermore, their restriction to a single small island makes the entire species extraordinarily vulnerable to a single catastrophic event.

Support Sulu Hornbills by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

BirdLife International. 2020. Anthracoceros montani. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22682447A178062684. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22682447A178062684.en. Accessed on 23 February 2023.

 Sulu hornbill Wikipedia article – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulu_hornbill

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