The Mindanao Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides affinis), sometimes shortened to Mindanao Hornbill, is a medium-small species of hornbill found in the canopy of rainforests on Mindanao, Dinagat, Siargao and Basilan in the southern Philippines. As is the case with all Philippine tarictic hornbills, it has been considered a subspecies of P. panini. Additionally, the Samar Tarictic Hornbill is often included as a subspecies of the Mindanao Tarictic Hornbill.
Subspecies
There are two subspecies:
- P. a. affinis (nominate). Found on the islands of Mindanao, Dinagat and Siargao.
- P. affinis basilanica. Found on the island of Basilan.
Behavior
It is social and often seen in pairs of small groups. These birds are noisy and emit an incessant sound that sounds like ta-rik-tik, hence the name. Despite their noise they are difficult to find, being well camouflaged by the dense foliage.
Diet
The principal food of Mindanao Tarictic Hornbill is fruit. It also eats insects, beetles, ants and earthworms (rarely).