The elusive Southern rufous hornbill, a bird endemic to Mindanao, was spotted in Mt. Apo in Magpet, Cotabato.

It was spotted by the Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) - Cotabato team during monitoring on May 2, 2024.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Soccsksargen (DENR-12), the Southern rufous hornbill is endemic to Mindanao and is characterized by its dark rufous head and neck, and a red casque on top of its bill. The upper part of its bill is red and with ridges while the lower part is less red with a yellowish-white front.

DENR-12 said the bird's eyes can be yellowish-grey, blue-grey, or pale green, and it has a black skin around its eyes. Both males and females have black underparts, a brown back and wings, and a white tail.

“This avian species’ honking calls serve as a reminder of the time of day resonating through the wilderness every hour. This unique characteristic has earned it the moniker ‘clock of the mountains’ among the Ubu Monuvu people, symbolizing its close connection to the natural rhythms of the forest,” DENR-12 said.

DENR-12 also said the Southern rufous hornbill is a fruit-eating species and assumes a ‘critical ecological role in seed dispersal, thereby facilitating the regeneration and maintenance of invaluable forest ecosystems.’

The Southern rufous hornbill is included in the vulnerable species category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

“Recent studies suggest that illegal hunting and poaching for the pet trade, coupled with habitat destruction, are driving forces behind the declining population of the Rufous Hornbill,” DENR-12 said.